TRANSPORT

A628

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors he took into consideration when authorising the budget increase for the A628 Mottram Tintwistle bypass; what the main reasons were for agreeing to the increase; and upon what date he agreed to the increases.

Stephen Ladyman: I took account of a number of factors in agreeing to an increase in the approved cost estimate for this scheme. In particular, I noted that important causes of the cost increase were, firstly, the decision, arising from the North West's advice on priorities for major transport schemes, to slip the proposed start date of this scheme to 2012-13; secondly, the use of more realistic forecasts of construction inflation up to the scheme's new start date; and thirdly, the inclusion of additional works to restrain the amount of traffic passing through the Peak District National Park following the construction of the scheme. I also took account of all the impacts, including the benefits that the scheme will provide. These include relieving the communities of Mottram, Hollingworth and Tintwistle of high volumes of through traffic and providing improved journey times for travellers. In the light of the overall balance of costs and benefits I decided that it was appropriate to agree the increase.
	I took this decision on 30 January 2007. However, I recognise that at the higher cost estimate this scheme represents an additional pressure on the funding allocation for major schemes in the North West region. Officials will be discussing this with the North West region shortly and I will take account of any views that they may wish to offer on the provision of funding and timing of delivery of this scheme in the light of the higher cost.

A69: Greenhead

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he paid £103,974.92 to the account of Brims and Company Ltd., mentioned at item 5 in the third interim award of 16 October 1998 in the Greenhead A69 diversion arbitration.

Stephen Ladyman: Brims and Company Ltd. were contractors working on the A69 Greenhead diversion scheme. The company went into receivership in 1990. Receivers were appointed and an arbitration was brought against the Secretary of State. A settlement figure was agreed and ratified by the arbitrator in November 2002. This was a full and final settlement and explicitly included the payment of interest and costs. The agreed settlement figure was paid to Brims and Company Ltd. shortly thereafter. The settlement was enshrined in a consent award which attracts the confidentiality which is implicit in the arbitration process. The confidence is owed to the administrative receiver of Brims and Company Ltd.

Official Cars

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Ministers were entitled to the services of an official Government car in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) is responsible for providing ministerial transport in line with the Ministerial Code and the Prime Minister's guidance 'Travel by Ministers'.
	All serving Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State since 1997 were entitled to an official Government car.

Official Cars

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Ministers with an entitlement to an official Government car have chosen to be driven in  (a) a Jaguar and  (b) a Toyota Prius.

Stephen Ladyman: Guidance on the use and provision of government cars is set out in Travel by Ministers and the Ministerial Code. It is for individual Ministers to account for their travel arrangements.

Railway Stations

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) rail and  (b) tram stations there are in England and Wales; and  (c) how many bus stations there are in England.

Tom Harris: The information is as follows.
	 (a) The Network Rail's Annual Return to the Office of Rail Regulation published 1 August 2006 shows that there were 2,167 stations in England and Wales.
	 (b) There are 391 tram stops in England, although currently no light rail systems in Wales (excluding those, such as the Great Orme Tramway, which is operated primarily as a tourist attraction and not as a transit system). There is no distinction in this figure between a tram stop and a tram station. These figures do not include MerseyRail or the London Underground, which are considered "heavy" rail, but does include the Docklands Light Railway.
	 (c) Unfortunately, we are unable to provide the number of bus stations in England. We do not define bus stations in our data as there is no clear definition as to what a bus station is i.e. at what point are bus stops clustered close enough in order to call it a bus station. Therefore, we only recognise individual bus stops. The number of bus stops available relates to Great Britain only, as it is extremely hard to count bus stops for individual countries. There are currently 361,745 active bus/coach stops in Great Britain as a whole.

Railways: Electric Cables

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to reduce the amount of cable theft on the railways;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of cable theft on the railways.

Tom Harris: The British Transport Police are well aware of the seriousness of cable theft and, working with Network Rail, have initiated a wide range of measures to address the problem.
	The effects of cable theft on the railways is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Network Rail's Chief Executive at the following address for a response to her question.
	John Armitt
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London NW1 2EE

Railways: Freight

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has undertaken any research on the impact of railfreight interchanges on reducing the number of heavy goods vehicles movements and carbon dioxide emissions.

Tom Harris: Each railfreight interchange is unique to its specific location and the impact it has on heavy goods traffic is therefore particular to that individual site. Because of this it has not been possible to produce generic modelling on heavy goods vehicle movements at railfreight interchanges.

Roads: Halifax

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much capital has been allocated by local authorities to new road projects in Halifax since 1997.

Gillian Merron: Figures for the Halifax constituency are not specifically available. The following table sets out how much capital spending on integrated transport improvements has been reported by Calderdale metropolitan borough council (which includes Halifax) to my Department from 1997-98 to 2005-06.
	
		
			   Amount (£000) 
			 1997-98 1,002 
			 1998-99 1,333 
			 1999-2000 873 
			 2000-01 1,810 
			 2001-02 2,041 
			 2002-03 2,263 
			 2003-04 2,967 
			 2004-05 2,799 
			 2005-06 1,700 
		
	
	Integrated transport improvements are new road and local public transport related projects. The totals exclude investment made in the area by West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, as this is primarily related to public transport.

South West Trains: Fares

John Butterfill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the proposal by South West Trains to increase  (a) off-peak,  (b) super off-peak and  (c) first class fares; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Harris: These fares are unregulated and therefore Stagecoach need not seek the approval of the Department. Unregulated fares are for train operators to set at their discretion.
	The Department has received three letters on the subject.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras there are in Halifax constituency.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not hold this information, but does have the information for the area covered by the West Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership, analysed by local authority. The details are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Local authority  Number 
			 Calderdale MBC 20 
			 City of Bradford MDC 26 
			 City of Wakefield MDC 13 
			 Kirklees 13 
			 Leeds CC 15 
			 Grand total 87

Vehicle Emissions

Jane Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to arrange flexibility of implementation for a Europe-wide agreement on exhaust emissions to allow UK-based car manufacturers to respond fully and positively whilst maintaining their manufacturing operations; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Following the European Commission's announcement of its intention to legislate on new car fuel efficiency, the Government intend to hold a consultation with stakeholders to ensure that impacts are fully assessed, including issues of flexibility and cost-effectiveness, before a final legislative proposal is produced.

SCOTLAND

Departments: Advertising

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to  (a) television,  (b) radio and  (c) print media.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. The Office does not record separate figures for campaigns by television, radio and print. Figures for 1999-2000 are not available; the Office spent the following on advertising:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2000-01 270,494 
			 2001-02 186,564 
			 2002-03 10,390 
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 0 
		
	
	Most of the expenditure in 2000-01 and 2001-02 relates to electoral registration matters; since 2001, this has been the responsibility of the Electoral Commission.

Departments: Advertising

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on  (a) sponsoring newspaper and publication supplements and  (b) funding advertorials in newspapers or publications in the last year for which figures are available; and what the topic of each was.

David Cairns: Nothing.

Devolution: Scotland

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent devolution issues the Advocate General has considered.

David Cairns: Since 24 February, 43 devolution issues have been intimated to the Advocate-General. Of these 43 devolution issues, 14 related to civil proceedings and 29 related to criminal proceedings.

Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he expects the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 to be implemented in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 extend to Scotland and I would expect them to be implemented in exactly the same way as in England and Wales.

Orkney

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his answer of 7 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2028W, on Orkney, how many visits were made by Scottish Office Ministers to  (a) Orkney and  (b) Shetland in each year from 1983 to 1999.

David Cairns: I regret that this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent  (a) representations he has received on and  (b) assessment he has made of the reliability of .50 ammunition for the heavy machine gun used by UK troops in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We are experiencing no performance problems with any ammunition and a rigorous testing system is in place to assure this.
	Reports of stoppages on the 0.5 calibre heavy machine gun were received from Afghanistan last year. Comprehensive technical investigations confirmed that the cause was a weapons system problem, not the ammunition, which was quickly resolved.
	In an unrelated investigation, some ammunition was found to have substandard links, which were causing wear to feeding blocks. The decision was swiftly taken to withdraw all of this ammunition from theatre, and the stock was replaced.
	The weapon system, including its ammunition is currently operating efficiently in all theatres of operation.

Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  for what reason Eurofighter aircraft are being deployed in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects Eurofighters to be deployed in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: There are no plans to deploy Eurofighter aircraft to Afghanistan.

Air Force: Military Bases

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF bases  (a) have been closed since 1997 and  (b) are due to be closed.

Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member with information on the number of RAF bases that have been closed since 1997.
	The following RAF bases have been announced as currently scheduled for closure:
	RAF Bentley Priory
	RAF Brampton
	RAF Innsworth
	RAF Lyneham
	RAF Uxbridge

Hercules Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the reasons for the fuel leaks on the Hercules aircraft after they have been fitted with suppressant foam; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We are currently collating and evaluating data in connection with the fuel leaks that have occurred on some Hercules aircraft fitted with explosion suppressant foam. This work is being undertaken by a joint MOD/industry team.

Hercules Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2007,  Official Report, column 205W, on Hercules aircraft, whether the Fit For Purpose Hercules aircraft available to the Front Line Command provided by The Hercules Integrated Operational Support contract includes  (a) explosive suppressant foam and  (b) defensive aids suite; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: All of the RAF's Hercules aircraft are maintained under the Hercules Integrated Operational Support contract. I am withholding the number of aircraft that are equipped with explosion suppressant foam and defensive aid systems as its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Hospital Ships

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to order the two hospital ships recommended in the 1998 strategic defence review.

Adam Ingram: It is planned that the Maritime Role Three Medical Capability programme, previously called the Joint Casualty Treatment Ship, will address the capability referred to in the strategic defence review.

Lynx Helicopters: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) information and  (b) evidence informed the decision to procure the new Lynx helicopter; and if he will place in the Library copies of such material.

Adam Ingram: The decision to procure the new Lynx helicopter was informed by the Main Gate Business Case submitted to the Investment Approvals Board supported by a broad range of supporting evidence. This provided information and evidence about the required military capability, affordability, value for money and coherency with the defence industrial strategy.
	I am withholding further information on the business case as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Navy: Lynx Helicopters

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Royal Navy's fleet air arm, with particular reference to the Lynx Mk7 Attack Helicopter; and whether he plans to replace the existing Lynx Mk7 with a more modern helicopter.

Adam Ingram: 847 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton is the only Fleet Air Arm unit to operate the Lynx Mk7. The Joint Service Future Lynx programme to replace the Lynx Mk7 helicopters of the Fleet Air Arm and the Army with the new Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter has a projected in service date of 2013.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: Opinion Polls

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what public opinion polls his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the United Kingdom's obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Des Browne: The Department has neither commissioned nor evaluated any opinion polls concerning the UK's obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We are aware of our obligations under this treaty and continue to meet them in full.

Trident Missiles

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the introduction of the Mk4A Arming, Fusing and Firing system on the  (a) ability to accurately adjust the height of burst of the Trident warhead and  (b) probability that the Trident warhead will be effective against hardened targets.

Des Browne: The MK4A Arming, Fusing and Firing system is a non-nuclear component being introduced into the UK Trident warhead to replace a similar component which is becoming obsolete. This is necessary to ensure that we can keep the existing warhead in service in the 2020s. I am not prepared to discuss the detailed performance characteristics of our nuclear weapons.

PRIME MINISTER

E-petitions

David Maclean: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost is of providing administrative support services to the e-petition facility on the Downing street website.

Tony Blair: Since it is potentially part of the work of all those involved in e-petitions and handling correspondence in my office, information on the cost of administrative support services in not available in the format requested.

Prime Minister: Speeches

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Prime Minister what the names and job titles were of those invited to his speech on the arts at Tate Modern on 6 March 2007.

Tony Blair: This is a matter for Tate Modern.

Sudan: Sanctions

David Drew: To ask the Prime Minister what sanctions he is proposing should be imposed upon the Sudanese government following his letter to Chancellor Merkel.

Tony Blair: The UK has proposed further targeted sanctions against those responsible for atrocities in Darfur, and an extension of the arms embargo to the whole of Sudan. I wrote to EU leaders on 21 March to make the case for this, and Chancellor Merkel and I raised sanctions with EU colleagues at the 25 March Informal Summit. We are now taking forward a UN Security Council Resolution in New York.
	The situation in Darfur remains appalling. There are continued attacks on civilians, peacekeepers and the humanitarian agencies. The arms embargo on Darfur continues to be violated. No side is making a serious effort to find a peaceful settlement to the conflict. President Bashir has repeatedly gone back on his government's commitments, in particular with regard to the UN support for African Union peacekeepers and the rapid deployment of a hybrid/ UN force.

Visits Abroad: Expenditure

Theresa May: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions a special adviser accompanied him on official business abroad; and at what cost to the public purse in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Tony Blair: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more along with the total cost of all ministerial travel. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. The number of officials, including special advisers, accompanying Ministers on visits overseas and the total cost of each visit is included in the list.
	All Ministers' travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the 'Ministerial Code', and the accompanying guidance document, 'Travel by Ministers'.

Visits Abroad: Expenditure

Theresa May: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions his wife accompanied him on official business abroad at the public expense, and at what cost, in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Tony Blair: My wife accompanies me on official visits overseas as appropriate. The costs of official visits are included in the annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more. Since 2005, the details of the visits where I have been accompanied by my wife have also been included in the annual list. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

British Aid

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the relative effectiveness of British aid provided through the independent sector, through the EU and bilaterally.

Hilary Benn: Our assessment is that, to maximise the benefits to poor people, it makes sense to give our aid in different ways, depending on the circumstances.
	DFID's bi-lateral aid, given directly to governments or through NGOs and the UN, helps provide essential services. We also support NGOs to help citizens hold their governments to account.
	Aid given through the European Commission and the World Bank enables us to reach a larger number of countries and people.

Zimbabwe: Aid Distribution

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the involvement of the government of Zimbabwe in the distribution of aid from  (a) the UK and  (b) the UN.

Hilary Benn: None of the UK's humanitarian or food aid goes through the government of Zimbabwe; it is all distributed through the UN and non-governmental organisations. As donors, we will not tolerate the politicisation of aid, and we suspend projects if we need to. The UK funds a local civil society organisation to monitor food aid distribution, and works with humanitarian partners to ensure the most vulnerable people are reached.

Micro-credit Fund: Africa

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department plans to support the German proposal to create a microcredit fund for African entrepreneurs at the forthcoming G8 summit.

Gareth Thomas: We are working closely with our G8 partners to agree concrete proposals to expand access to financial services in Africa. We support the 'Making Finance Work for Africa' initiative proposed by the German Presidency and the World Bank.
	We are waiting for further more specific details of the regional micro credit fund proposal.

Reproductive Health

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: DFID set out its priorities for action to "improve maternal health" in our 2004 strategy 'Reducing maternal deaths: evidence and action'. This strategy guides DFID's approach to helping developing countries to improve the availability of and access to life saving services for pregnant women. For example in Nigeria DFID has a £55 million programme of support for health system strengthening with a focus on maternal health. In Ekiti state this support has resulted in a 100 per cent. increase in the number of women who are cared for by a health professional during childbirth.

Latin America: Aid

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding he has allocated as aid for Latin American countries in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: DFID currently has plans to allocate £8 million in 2007-08 to the Latin American regional programme, and £4 million to the bilateral programme in Nicaragua. Decisions about funding allocations to Latin American countries from 2008-09 will be taken in the context of the comprehensive spending review.

Maternal Health Progress Report

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he plans to publish the Maternal Health Progress Report.

Gareth Thomas: The 2(nd) Annual Progress Report on Maternal Health is due to be published in April 2007.

Anti-corruption Standards

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the efforts of the international aid agencies to promote anti-corruption standards in developing country programmes.

Hilary Benn: In promoting anti-corruption standards in partner countries it is very important that international agencies ensure a consistent message on corruption. We do this by assessing and influencing the approaches of other agencies. Recently we have been involved with; the World Bank process to develop a Governance and Anti-Corruption Framework and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee to formulate common approaches to corruption in partner countries. This initiative included a joint mission to Cameroon to enable agencies to assess each other's approaches to addressing corruption; and other bilateral donors on implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption.

Zimbabwe

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Zimbabwe.

Hilary Benn: DFID spent £33 million in 2006-07 to tackle food insecurity and HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, through United Nations agencies and non governmental organisations. DFID has provided £3 million to support the World Food Programme; and committed £30 million to help over a million vulnerable people through longer-term NGO initiatives. DFID is providing £5 million to the International Organisation for Migration to help internally displaced people. Our health programmes will supply antiretroviral drugs to 30,000 people and save the lives of mothers and newborn babies. We are monitoring the situation closely, and stand ready to contribute more resources if humanitarian needs increase significantly.

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the value is of humanitarian aid provided by his Department to Afghanistan in the 2006-07 financial year to date.

Hilary Benn: The UK has committed the following humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in this financial year to date: £1 million for drought mitigation; £1.2 million to support HALO Trust's de-mining programme; and £30,000 to provide food and other essential items like soap and blankets for 3,000 internally displaced families in Helmand.
	Final expenditure data for 2006-07 are not yet available. Provisional data will be released in June, prior to final estimates being published in statistics on international development in October. Data for the five years to 2005-06 were published in table 12.3 of the latest edition of "Statistics on International Development 2001-02 to 2005-06", copies of which are available in the Library. The figure for humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in 2005-06 was £3.39 million.

Africa: Drugs

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking to limit the spread of counterfeit drugs and medicines in Africa.

Gareth Thomas: DFID supports the World Health Organisation (WHO), through its core funding, in its efforts to help African countries strengthen their pharmaceutical legislation, good manufacturing practices, national drug regulatory capacity and performance. The WHO also promotes information exchange among drug regulatory authorities to help combat drug counterfeiters.
	The UK Government are working closely with developed and developing country governments, international institutions such as the World Health Organisation, non government organisations and the private sector to develop the Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA) to build support for transparency in medicines procurement and supply to help to drive out counterfeiting as well as corruption, excessive mark-ups and inefficiencies. We expect to launch MeTA in a number of pilot countries in mid 2007.
	DFID has provided support to Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control which has taken an active lead in reducing counterfeit drugs throughout the country.

Africa: Family Planning

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the Government will take steps to encourage member states of the African Union to implement the Maputo plan of action on allocation of resources for sexual reproductive health services, maternal health care and contraception.

Hilary Benn: DFID fully supports the aims of the African Union Maputo plan of action on maternal health which is consistent with the DFID strategy 'Reducing maternal deaths: evidence and action'. DFID will continue to work with and encourage partner governments to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services and commodities through DFID funded country programmes, and through regional and global advocacy.
	At regional level, DFID works closely with the African Union Commission and other regional partners responsible for the Maputo plan and will continue to do so.
	At country level, DFID will continue to work closely with national governments. In Nigeria, DFID has a £55 million programme of support for health system strengthening with a focus on maternal health. The programme works closely with state and federal health ministries and in Ekiti state this support has resulted in a 100 per cent. increase in the number of women who are cared for by a health professional during childbirth. In Burundi, DFID is supporting the Ministry of Health to implement a free health care policy for pregnant women and children under five. In Sierra Leone DFID is developing a 10-year £50 million programme with the Ministries of Health and Finance specifically to improve sexual, reproductive and child health. In Zimbabwe DFID will invest £25 million pounds over five years to improve maternal and newborn health. The project will reduce the number of maternal deaths and reduce the number of children becoming infected or dying from HIV infection.

Africa: Family Planning

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress his Department has made in encouraging partner governments to improve access to maternal health care and contraception services so as to reduce the levels of maternal mortality encountered in regions including sub-Saharan Africa.

Hilary Benn: As set out in DFID's strategy 'Reducing maternal deaths: evidence and action', DFID continues to work with partner governments to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services and commodities through DFID funded country programmes, and through regional and global advocacy. Increasingly DFID supports nationally led programmes for essential health services through budget support, as well as specific programmes for improving maternal and child health. For example, in Malawi and Uganda DFID works with national partners to strengthen health services, particularly human resources for health, and is pressing for the expansion of evidence-based sexual and reproductive services.
	While reducing maternal mortality remains a major challenge, progress is being made. In Nigeria, DFID has a £55 million programme of support for health system strengthening with a focus on maternal health. The programme works closely with state and federal health ministries. In Ekiti state this support has resulted in a 100 per cent. increase in the number of women who are cared for by a health professional during childbirth. In Kenya a regional safe motherhood programme supported overall health system strengthening and was used to argue for more support to maternal and child health within essential health services programme. In Burundi, DFID is supporting the Ministry of Health to implement a free health care policy for pregnant women and children under five. In Sierra Leone, DFID is developing a 10 year, £50 million programme with the Ministries of Health and Finance specifically to improve sexual, reproductive and child health. The programme will strengthen the health system as a whole and address human resources for health, supplies of commodities, policy planning and financing. It will also contribute towards reducing key social, cultural and economic barriers to accessing basic health services.

Bolivia: Floods

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial support he plans to allocate to deal with problems caused by floods in Bolivia.

Gareth Thomas: The EC Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) is providing €1 million emergency funds for flood victims in Bolivia. DFID contributes to this through its 18 per cent. share of the European Community's external assistance programme. Beyond that, DFID's Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department's assessment is that the urgent humanitarian needs have been met by other donors. In view of this, DFID does not plan to provide further direct financial support.

EC Grants and Loans

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which countries  (a) the European Commission and  (b) his Department has committed funds under European Development Fund 10.

Gareth Thomas: The 10(th) European Development Fund (EDF10) will provide €22.7 billion (£15.3 billion) for development, economic and trade co-operation for the period 2008 to 2013 to 79 countries in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific. The UK contribution to EDF10 will be 14.82 per cent. EDF10 will become operational from 1 January 2008.
	Countries eligible for EDF10 funding are as follows.
	 Africa
	Angola
	Benin
	Botswana
	Burkina Faso
	Burundi
	Cameroon
	Cape Verde
	Central African Republic
	Chad
	Comoros
	Congo (Brazzaville)
	Congo (Kinshasa)
	Djibouti
	Equatorial Guinea
	Eritrea
	Ethiopia
	Gabon
	Gambia
	Ghana
	Guinea
	Guinea Bissau
	Ivory Coast
	Kenya
	Lesotho
	Liberia
	Madagascar
	Malawi
	Mali
	Mauritania
	Mauritius
	Mozambique
	Namibia
	Niger
	Nigeria
	Rwanda
	Sao Tome and Principe
	Senegal
	Seychelles
	Sierra Leone
	Somalia
	South Africa
	Sudan
	Swaziland
	Tanzania
	Togo
	Uganda
	Zambia
	Zimbabwe
	 Caribbean
	Antigua and Barbuda
	Bahamas
	Barbados
	Belize
	Cuba
	Dominica
	Dominican Republic
	Grenada
	Guyana
	Haiti
	Jamaica
	St. Kitts and Nevis
	St. Lucia
	St. Vincent
	Suriname
	Trinidad and Tobago
	 Pacific
	Cook Islands
	Federated States of Micronesia
	Fiji
	Kiribati
	Marshall Islands
	Nauru
	Niue
	Palau
	Papua New Guinea
	Samoa
	Solomon Islands
	Timor-Leste
	Tonga
	Tuvalu
	Vanuatu
	 Overseas Countries and Territories
	Anguilla
	Cayman Islands
	Falkland Islands
	South Georgia
	South Sandwich Islands
	Montserrat
	Pitcairn
	Saint Helena and dependencies
	British Antarctic Territories
	British Indian Ocean Territories
	Turks and Caicos Islands
	British Virgin Islands
	Mayotte
	New Caledonia
	French Polynesia
	Saint Pierre and Miquelon
	Southern and Antarctic Territories
	Wallis and Futuna Islands
	Aruba
	Dutch Antilles (Curasao, Bonaire, Saint Maarten, Saint Eustache and Saba)
	Greenland

Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was allocated to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in each calendar year since 2002.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has allocated £359 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria from 2002 to 2007 as follows:
	
		
			  Global Fund to fight AIDS,  TB and Malaria—DFID spend 2000- 06 
			   £ million 
			 2002 50 
			 2003 25 
			 2004 33 
			 2005 51 
			 2006 100 
			 2007 100 
			 Total 359 
		
	
	DFID's commitment of £100 million for 2007 is subject to performance.

Guinea

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Guinea.

Hilary Benn: The UK has been concerned by the unrest and political instability in Guinea arising from the general strike earlier this year, and has supported the efforts of ECOWAS and regional leaders in helping mediate during the crisis.
	The situation has calmed with the lifting of martial law on 23 February, the ending of the strike, and the appointment of Lansana Kouyate as Prime Minister. We hope that he will soon appoint a new, broadly-based and consensus government which will work to move Guinea forward. But the recent crisis has brought the already devastated economy to a near standstill. It has severely affected the provision of health and other public services and the population's access to them. Food supplies have been disrupted, with the price of staples such as rice, flour, sugar and vegetables, as well as fuel, increasing sharply.
	DFID is monitoring the humanitarian situation, and is in contact with international partners and agencies based in Guinea. In response to the crisis and the increased humanitarian risks, we have agreed to provide £350,000 through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to be focused on meeting urgent medical and nutritional needs, and to maintain preparedness in case of further civil unrest with humanitarian consequences.
	DFID has also recently agreed to provide £270,000 to the World Food programme humanitarian air service for West Africa, which facilitates the movement of humanitarian personnel and urgently needed non-food items between Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The air service recently demonstrated its importance during the civil unrest in Guinea, allowing agencies to respond and facilitate security evacuations.

India

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many departmental staff are located in India; and where they are located.

Gareth Thomas: DFID India has total 117 staff. Of these, 21 are UK based Home civil servants and 96 are staff appointed in country. DFID India has offices in Delhi (Headquarters), Bhubaneshwar (Orissa), Kolkata (West Bengal), and Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). Of the current total, 107 staff are based in New Delhi, four staff in Bhopal and three each in Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar.

India

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of India's progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Gareth Thomas: DFID India regularly assesses progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in India. These assessments are based on official Government of India statistics, but take into account concerns over the quality of data and independent assessments where appropriate.
	Sources for recent assessments of progress in India include the Government of India's 11th Five year plan approach paper, the Government of India's Millennium Development Goals India Country Report, and the United Nations and World Bank database of progress indicators for Millennium Development Goals.
	A summary of results is available on the World Bank website at:
	http://ddpext.worldbank.org/ext/ddpreports/ViewSharedReport?REPORTID=1336&REQUEST_TYPE=VIEWADVANCED

Malaria: Drugs

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the rollout of the new fixed-dose combination drug artesunate and amodiaquine (ASAQ) in tackling malaria in  (a) Africa,  (b) Asia and  (c) Latin America.

Gareth Thomas: The new fixed-dose combination drug artesunate and amodiaquine (ASAQ) was launched on 1 March 2007 and it is too early to assess the rollout. Although countries can buy the drug now, most will wait until it passes through the World Health Organisation (WHO) pre-qualification process. After this the drug can be procured through international drug purchasing facilities, such as the global fund for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
	The drugs for neglected diseases initiative (DNDi) will monitor all aspects of the rollout to ensure that the drug is taken up by countries and delivered to patients. ASAQ has been produced in partnership with the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis who have extensive distribution networks in Africa. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are recommended by WHO for the treatment of malaria, and ASAQ is an ACT recommended first line treatment in 20 African countries. Because of this and the fact that ASAQ is easier to use and less expensive than existing ACT drugs, DNDi expects quick take up by countries.
	ASAQ can only be used where there is no pre-existing resistance to amodiaquine, so it is most relevant for use in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the 20 countries where it is already recommended for first line treatment. It is less likely to be used in Asia (although it may be used in parts of India and Indonesia) and Latin America.

Overseas Aid

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to promote the independent evaluation of British aid.

Hilary Benn: UK aid is subject to external scrutiny through independent monitoring (by the IDC), audit (by the NAO) and peer review (by the OECD). DFID's policies and country programmes are evaluated by external experts and findings are published.
	However we can go further. I intend to establish a mechanism to ensure more independent evaluation of DFID's impact and I will inform the House of my proposals in due course.

Palestinians: EC Aid

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many projects have been cancelled or suspended in the Palestinian authority area since the European Commission's decision of 7 April 2006 to stop funds being transferred to that authority, broken down by type of project; and how the funds being withheld are being treated.

Hilary Benn: Since the election of the Hamas-led Palestinian authority (PA), ten European Commission (EC) projects have been suspended. These are:
	1. Health sector support programme
	2. Support to tax administration in Ministry of Finance
	3. Support to customs administration in the Ministry of Finance
	4. Infrastructure for judiciary sector
	5. Vocational education and training facilities centre
	6. Nablus old city renovation
	7. Schools construction
	8. Gaza airport
	9. Infrastructure facility for Ministry of Finance (apart from activities directly managed by the EC)
	10. Support to the energy and transport sectors
	Not all of these projects were suspended as a result of the Hamas-led Government's failure to meet the quartet principles. For example, the Gaza airport project was very unlikely to move forward during 2006, regardless of Palestinian political developments. The EC re-designed some projects in order to achieve the same results without channelling funds through the PA. Funds for other projects remain available for when the EC restarts business with the PA.
	The EC re-designed its 2006 programme in order to deliver support to the Palestinian people without channelling funding through the Hamas-led Government. This did not result in significant amounts of funding being blocked or suspended. In fact, the EC spent €348 million in 2006, compared to €277 million in 2005. This included support to: the temporary international mechanism; the Office of the Palestinian president; local and international non-governmental organisations; projects implemented by international organisations (such as the World Bank, and UNESCO); and humanitarian assistance delivered by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Palestinians: EC Aid

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much  (a) technical assistance,  (b) budgetary support and  (c) humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian authority has been suspended by the (i) EU and (ii) UK following the election of the Hamas Government.

Hilary Benn: Following the election of the Hamas-led Government, the European Union (EU) has suspended a number of technical assistance projects. A breakdown of specific projects from all member states is not available. Ten European Commission (EC) projects have been suspended, though some of these might have been suspended regardless of Palestinian political developments. The EC re-designed some projects in order to achieve the same results without channelling funds through the Palestinian authority (PA). No new budget support agreement was put into place (though budget support was not technically suspended). EU (EC and member states) humanitarian assistance commitments were €165 million in 2006, more than double the 2005 figure. Overall, EU assistance increased by 27 per cent. in 2006 to £442 million, including £123 million for Palestinian basic needs through the temporary international mechanism. This compares to £42 million which the EU gave in budget support to the PA in 2005.
	DFID has re-oriented its technical assistance to comply with the quartet statement of 30 January. The only UK-led project that has been suspended is a planned project covering hydrometric monitoring to the Palestinian water authority (PWA) worth £431,000. No new budget support agreement was put into place. In 2005-06 (prior to the election of Hamas) DFID provided £10 million in budget support to the PA. DFID humanitarian assistance has remained unaffected. The UK maintained the same level of support (£30 million) in 2006-07 as in 2005-06, and will increase this slightly to £30.6 million for 2007-08.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Admissions: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will rank London education authorities by  (a) the (i) number and (ii) percentage of admission appeals lodged relating to secondary transfer and  (b) the (A) number and (B) percentage of such appeals that were successful.

Jim Knight: This information is not collected in the form requested. A table giving details of appeals lodged by parents against non-admission of their children to their preferred school in 2004/05 can be found at
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000656/SFR20-2006.pdf
	This provides data on all appeals made for any primary or secondary school year group at any point in the school year, including secondary transfer.

Adoption: Catholic Church

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are being managed by Catholic adoption agencies.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of children who are currently being managed by Catholic adoption agencies is not collected by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

After School Clubs

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether staff and volunteers from outside a school who run breakfast or after-school clubs are required to have undertaken training on how to tackle bullying.

Jim Knight: holding answer 9 March 2007
	 There is no specific requirement for staff and volunteers from outside a school to have training in relation to bullying, although we would expect those who operate extended school schemes to be equipped with the necessary skills to tackle it when it occurs.
	Trainee teachers receive training in tackling bullying and there is a wide range of courses available for qualified teachers. We supplement this training with guidance and advice designed to address the specific needs which school staff have in this area, for example, with regards to tackling prejudice-driven bullying. We are also currently revising our over-arching guidance to schools 'Don't Suffer in Silence' to ensure that schools have practical advice on how successfully to address and prevent bullying when it occurs.

After School Clubs

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether schools' anti-bullying policies are required to cover activities on school property which occur outside regular school hours.

Jim Knight: holding answer 9 March 2007
	 While there is not a specific legal requirement for school anti-bullying policies to cover activities that take place outside of regular school hours, there is a duty on schools to tackle all forms of bullying and so we would expect school policies to be couched in sufficiently broad terms that bullying on school premises outside school hours would be covered. The guidance to accompany the school discipline provisions in the Education and Inspections Act 2006, 'School Discipline and Pupil Behaviour Policies', will make clear that the Government believe extended school activities, sports events and breakfast/after-school clubs should be covered by the school behaviour policy and that schools should apply disciplinary penalties for poor behaviour (including bullying) that occurs at such activities.
	Work has also been undertaken at local level to deal specifically with bullying in extended schools. In some schools, work funded by Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) has helped to identify children and young people at risk of being bullied, or of bullying others, and provides positive diversionary activities out of school hours and during school holidays. There is also evidence to suggest that the provision of extended services by schools may, in itself, help to counter bullying. In particular, we know that on-site provision of family and community services can have a positive impact on pupil behaviour and attendance generally. Part of the Behaviour Improvement Programme included the development of 'full service' extended schools, and the 'core offer' of extended services which we want all schools to provide by 2010 includes services of direct relevance to issues around bullying such as parenting support and easy access to a wide range of specialist support services.

Aldridge Foundation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether payments from the public purse have been made to the Aldridge Foundation in the last 12 months.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Education and Skills has not allocated any public funding for further education or schools to the Aldridge Foundation in the last 12 months.

Bishops Park College

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 21 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1818W, on Bishops Park College, what the  (a) staying on rate,  (b) number of exclusions,  (c) number of teenage pregnancies and  (d) level of parental satisfaction were at the College in each year since 2002.

Jim Knight: The information is as follows.
	 (a) Bishops Park College does not have a sixth form. The Department does not currently produce school level staying on rates.
	 (b) Bishops Park College has reported no permanent exclusions since its opening in September 2002. The first year for which information on fixed period exclusions is available relates to the 2003/04 academic year. No fixed period exclusions from Bishops Park College were reported for 2003/04. There were 57 fixed period exclusions during the 2004/05 academic year.
	 (c) The Department does not collect information on teenage conceptions by school.
	 (d) The Department does not collect data on parental satisfaction in individual schools.

Building Schools for the Future

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether all types of schools can be granted building schools for the future funding.

Jim Knight: All types of secondary school are eligible for capital investment under building schools for the future, where they need it. This includes: community (including voluntary controlled), voluntary aided and foundation (including trust) schools; academies and city technology colleges; 11-16 and 11-18 secondary schools, and middle-deemed secondary and upper schools; the secondary part of all-through (primary and secondary) schools; sixth form centres established under school regulations; secondary and all-age special schools and pupil referral units; non-maintained special schools and music and dance schools where the majority of pupils are publicly funded; and boarding facilities in maintained secondary schools.

Children's Centres

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's centres within each local authority have been  (a) opened and  (b) closed in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: 500 Sure Start Children's Centres have been designated/opened in the last 12 months (23 March 2006 to 23 March 2007). This is broken down by each local authority. We have not received any reports of closures.
	
		
			  Local Authority  Number of designated children's centres 23 March 2006 to 23 March 2007 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4 
			 Barnet 1 
			 Barnsley 3 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 2 
			 Bexley 1 
			 Birmingham 16 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 3 
			 Blackpool 1 
			 Bolton 1 
			 Bradford 10 
			 Brent 3 
			 Brighton and Hove 2 
			 Bromley 3 
			 Buckinghamshire 7 
			 Bury 1 
			 Calderdale 4 
			 Cambridgeshire 2 
			 Camden 1 
			 Cheshire 5 
			 Cornwall 4 
			 Coventry 6 
			 Croydon 3 
			 Cumbria 6 
			 Derby, City of 5 
			 Derbyshire 13 
			 Devon 5 
			 Doncaster 5 
			 Dorset 2 
			 Dudley 3 
			 Durham 22 
			 Ealing 6 
			 East Sussex 5 
			 Enfield 5 
			 Essex 5 
			 Hackney 6 
			 Halton 1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1 
			 Hampshire 4 
			 Haringey 1 
			 Harrow 3 
			 Havering 1 
			 Herefordshire 2 
			 Hillingdon 1 
			 Hounslow 5 
			 Islington 1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2 
			 Kent 9 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2 
			 Kirklees 11 
			 Lambeth 8 
			 Lancashire 8 
			 Leeds 3 
			 Leicester, City of 5 
			 Lincolnshire 6 
			 Liverpool 6 
			 London, City of 1 
			 Luton 9 
			 Manchester 5 
			 Medway 2 
			 Merton 1 
			 Middlesbrough 1 
			 Milton Keynes 2 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2 
			 Newham 2 
			 Norfolk 8 
			 North East Lincolnshire 3 
			 North Lincolnshire 1 
			 North Somerset 2 
			 North Tyneside 5 
			 North Yorkshire 1 
			 Northamptonshire 4 
			 Northumberland 9 
			 Nottingham, City of 8 
			 Nottinghamshire 8 
			 Oldham 3 
			 Oxfordshire 12 
			 Peterborough, city of 1 
			 Reading 1 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 4 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1 
			 Rochdale 5 
			 Rotherham 7 
			 Salford 6 
			 Sandwell 6 
			 Sefton 5 
			 Sheffield 3 
			 Solihull 1 
			 Somerset 2 
			 South Tyneside 3 
			 Southampton 9 
			 Southend on Sea 2 
			 Southwark 5 
			 St. Helens 1 
			 Staffordshire 4 
			 Stockport 2 
			 Stockton on Tees 1 
			 Stoke on Trent 4 
			 Suffolk 4 
			 Surrey 8 
			 Sutton 1 
			 Swindon 4 
			 Thurrock 3 
			 Torbay 2 
			 Tower Hamlets 6 
			 Trafford 2 
			 Wakefield 8 
			 Walsall 6 
			 Waltham Forest 4 
			 Warrington 1 
			 Warwickshire 6 
			 West Berkshire 2 
			 West Sussex 4 
			 Westminster, City of 1 
			 Wigan 3 
			 Wiltshire 4 
			 Wirral 5 
			 Wokingham 1 
			 Wolverhampton 3 
			 Worcestershire 3 
			 Total 500

Education: Information and Communications Technology

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage online learning in Coventry.

Jim Knight: holding answer 12 March 2007
	The Government's e-strategy for education and children's services seeks to ensure all learners have access to an online learning space. The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) is responsible for leading on enabling this access, and their delivery plan for the e-strategy aims to harness technology for the overall benefit of learners and the education system. Enabling online learning where and when appropriate is just one element of the strategy's aims.

Education: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 12 to 15 year olds in Lancashire failed to reach the required standard in English and mathematics in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of 14 year olds( 1)  in Lancashire LA who do not achieve Level 5, 1997-2006 (revised) 
			   English  Mathematics 
			 1997 40 39 
			 1998 32 37 
			 1999 34 35 
			 2000 34 32 
			 2001 31 30 
			 2002 29 30 
			 2003 28 27 
			 2004 28 25 
			 2005 25 24 
			 2006(2) 27 21 
			 (1 )Figures for other ages are not available (2 )Revised  Note: Pupils who do not achieve Level 5 includes pupils who were absent and pupils disapplied/unable to access the test.

Education: Standards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills why the figures for the total number of secondary schools where fewer than 50 per cent. of pupils achieved level 5 or above in each subject at key stage 3 published in SFR 07/2007 differs from the total number of secondary schools given in the sixth column of table 1 in SFR 38/2006.

Jim Knight: SFR 07/2007 shows progress towards the PSA target. This school level target covers all maintained mainstream schools published with key stage 3 results in the achievement and attainment tables. SFR 38/2006 contains figures collected during the school census in January 2006. The number of secondary schools given in the sixth column of table 1 includes all those open on 19 January 2006.

Education: Standards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of pupils who took the Key Stage 3 tests in  (a) English,  (b) mathematics and  (c) science in 2006 attained each level at Key Stage 2.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Education: Standards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of pupils who took the Key Stage 3 tests in  (a) English,  (b) mathematics and  (c) science in 2006 attained the same level or below the level they attained at Key Stage 2, broken down by those who attained (i) level 3, (ii) level 4 and (iii) level 5 at Key Stage 2.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Pupils attaining level 3, level 4 or level 5( 1)  in the 2006 Key Stage 3 tests who attained level 3, level 4 or level 5 in the 2003 Key Stage 2 tests( 2)  analyzed by subject 
			  Achievement at Key Stage 2  Number achieving same level or below at Key Stage 3( 3,4)  Percentage achieving same level or below at Key Stage 3 
			 English Level 3 19,100 19 
			 English Level 4 37,400 13 
			 English Level 5 27,700 18 
			 Mathematics Level 3 10,600 9 
			 Mathematics Level 4 15,500 6 
			 Mathematics Level 5 2,500 2 
			 Science Level 3 19,400 33 
			 Science Level 4 75,900 27 
			 Science Level 5 45,300 19 
			 (1) Includes pupils at levels 2, 3, 4, 5, B, N at Key Stage 3. (2) Results of Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 tests, not Teacher Assessments. (3) Numbers rounded to the nearest hundred. (4) Number of pupils attaining level 3, level 4 or level 5 in 2006 Key Stage 3 tests and attaining level 3, level 4 or level 5 in Key Stage 2 tests expressed as a percentage of all pupils attaining level 3, level 4 or level 5 in Key Stage 2 tests.

Education: Standards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of pupils who attained level 4 or below in the 2006 key stage 3 tests in  (a) English,  (b) mathematics and  (c) science had attained level 4 or above at key stage 2.

Jim Knight: The information can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Pupils attaining level 4 or below( 1)  in the 2006 key stage 3 tests who attained level 4 or above in the 2003 key stage 2 tests( 2)  analyzed by subject. 
			  Subject  Key stage 2 level 4 and above( 3,4)  Percentage 
			 English 38,200 9 
			 Mathematics 15,800 4 
			 Science 80,400 16 
			 (1) Includes pupils at levels 2, 3, 4, B, N at key stage 3. (2) Results of key stage 2 and key stage 3 tests, not teacher assessments. (3) Numbers rounded to the nearest 100. (4) Number of pupils attaining level 4 or below in 2006 key stage 3 tests and attaining level 4 or above in key stage 2 tests expressed as a percentage of all pupils attaining level 4 or above in key stage 2 tests.

Education: Standards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of pupils who attained level 5 or below in the 2006 key stage 3 tests in  (a) English,  (b) mathematics and  (c) science had attained level 5 or above at key stage 2.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Pupils attaining level 5 or below( 1)  in the 2006 key stage 3 tests who attained level 5 in the 2003 key stage 2 tests( 2)  analyzed by subject 
			  Key stage 3 tests  Number of pupils( 3,4)  Proportion of pupils 
			 English 27,700 18 
			 Mathematics 2,500 2 
			 Science 45,300 19 
			 (1) Includes pupils at levels 2, 3, 4, 5, B, N at key stage 3. (2) Results of key stage 2 and key stage 3 tests, not teacher assessments. (3) Numbers rounded to the nearest 100. (4) Number of pupils attaining level 5 or below in 2006 key stage 3 tests and attaining level 5 in key stage 2 tests expressed as a percentage of all pupils attaining level 5 in key stage 2 tests.

Education: Standards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many maintained mainstream schools there were where  (a) at least one pupil,  (b) more than 10 pupils and  (c) more than 50 per cent. of 14-year-old pupils attained a lower or the same level at key stage 3 in 2006 than they had attained at key stage 2.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of maintained mainstream schools where 14-year-old pupils attained a lower or the same level at key stage 3 in 2006( 1)  than they had attained at key stage 2 
			  Number of schools  English  Mathematics  Science 
			 At least one pupil 3,065 2,889 3,083 
			 More than 10 pupils 2,373 924 2,883 
			 More than 50 per cent. 11 0 99 
			 (1) Revised data

Free School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of children in English schools were entitled to free school meals in each year from 1978-79 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the  (a) proportion and  (b) number of English school pupils who are eligible for free school meals (i) in total, (ii) by region and (iii) by local education authority.

Jim Knight: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Further and Higher Education Act 1992

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has issued on the application of  (a) section 44 and  (b) section 45 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 to (i) sixth form colleges and (ii) general further education colleges; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Guidance was issued on religious education and collective worship in maintained schools and sixth form colleges in the FE sector in 1994 by the then Department for Education. Copies of this guidance—"Circular number 1/94 Religious Education and Collective Worship"—have been placed in the House Library.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in Lancashire obtained five GCSEs at grades A* to C including mathematics and English in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is given in the table as follows:
	
		
			  Number and percentage of 15-year-olds obtaining 5 or more GCSEs at Grades A*-C including English and Maths GCSE for the Lancashire local authority between the years 2002-06 
			   Number of 15-year-olds( 1)  gaining 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and Maths  Percentage of 15-year-olds( 1)  gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-C including English and Maths 
			 2006 (revised) 6,650 45.8 
			 2005 6,313 44.5 
			 2004 6,290 42.7 
			 2003 5,930 42.2 
			 2002 5,900 42.6 
			 (1 )Number of pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August.  Source:  School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Standards

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  in how many secondary schools less than 25 per cent. of pupils achieved  (a) five A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent and  (b) five A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics in each local education authority in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2006;
	(2)  in how many secondary schools 70 per cent. or more pupils achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent in each local education authority in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2006.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the House Library.

Information Sharing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Information Sharing index will have the technical capacity to record biometric data.

Beverley Hughes: The technical specification for ContactPoint (previously known by the working title of Information Sharing Index) does not include the capacity to store biometric data.
	ContactPoint will only hold basic identifying information about a child and contact details for parents, carers and practitioners who are providing services to a child. This will enable practitioners quickly to identify a child and to see who else is involved, making it easier to deliver more co-ordinated support.
	This intention is clearly specified in section 12 of the Children Act 2004 and in the draft regulations on which we consulted between September and December 2006. Subject to the will of Parliament, we intend the regulations to be in place by the summer recess.

Mathematics: GCE A-Level

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in maintained schools achieved  (a) an A grade and  (b) grades A to C in further mathematics A-level in the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: 1,499 students aged 16 to 18 in maintained schools achieved grade A in GCE A level further mathematics during academic year 2005/06. 2,507 achieved grades A-C in the same year. This represents 52 per cent. and 87 per cent. of all 2005/06 further mathematics candidates respectively.

Nursery Schools: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many nursery places for three and four-year-olds there were in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford and  (b) the London borough of Bexley in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2006.

Beverley Hughes: The available information is shown in the tables.
	
		
			  Number of part time funded places( 1,2)  filled by three and four-year-olds, Bexley local authority—position in January each year 
			   Three-year-olds  Four-year-olds 
			  Year  Maintained nursery and primary schools( 3)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  Total three-year-olds  Maintained nursery and primary schools( 4)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  Total four-year-olds 
			 2001 1,300 (5)910 2,200 n/a n/a (6,7)2,600 
			 2006 1,100 (8)1,000 2,100 2,300 (9)310 2,600 
			 n/a = not available (1) A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the annual schools' census. (4) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the annual schools' census. (5) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the nursery education grant data collection exercise. (6) For 2001, four-year-old sub-national figures from the nursery education grant data collection exercise can not be disaggregated between the maintained and private, voluntary and independent sectors. (7) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the nursery education grant data collection exercise. (8) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the early years census and the annual schools' census. (9) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the early years census and the annual schools' census. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of part-time funded places( 1,2)  filled by three and four-year-olds, Bexleyheath and Crayford parliamentary constituency—position in January each year 
			   Three-year-olds  Four-year-olds 
			  Year  Maintained nursery and primary schools( 3)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 4)  Total three-year-olds  Maintained nursery and primary schools( 5)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 6)  Total four-year-olds 
			 2006 400 360 760 880 80 960 
			 n/a = not available (1) A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 as appropriate. (3) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the annual schools' census. (4) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the early years census and the annual schools' census. (5) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the annual schools' census. (6) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the early years census and the annual schools' census. 
		
	
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release 32/2006 "Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2006 (final)" in August, which is available on the Department's website:
	www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/.

Parenting Orders

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parenting orders arising from truancy and exclusion from school were issued in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area; how many were breached; how many prosecutions were mounted against those breaching such orders; how many such prosecutions were successful; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department started to collect data regarding parenting contracts and orders (in cases of non-attendance and exclusions from school) from September 2004. The data are provided at local authority level and are published at: www.dfes.gov.uk/schoolattendance/otherinitiatives/Data.cfm. Copies have been placed in the House Library.
	Between 1 September 2004 and 1 September 2006 local authorities reported 18,232 education-related parenting contracts agreed with parents and 932 education-related parenting orders issued.
	Data are not collected centrally on the number of parenting orders that are breached or the outcome of such breaches.

Primary Education: Gender

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of those working as primary school teachers in England are  (a) female and  (b) male.

Jim Knight: In March 2005 16 per cent. of full-time regular qualified teachers employed in maintained nursery and primary schools were male and 84 per cent. were female. These figures are provisional and the latest information available.

Private Education

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were enrolled in private schools in  (a) England,  (b) each region and  (c) each local education authority area in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average expenditure per pupil was in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in Westminster in 1997; and how much was allocated for 2006-07.

Jim Knight: The school based expenditure per pupil in Westminster local authority in 1997-98 was £2,587 per pupil for local authority maintained nursery and primary schools and £3,046 per pupil for local authority secondary schools. In 2006-07, the Dedicated School Grant (DSG) guaranteed unit of funding allocated to Westminster was £4,513 per pupil.

Schools: Admissions

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) applications there were for and  (b) places there were at each (i) primary and (ii) secondary school in Chorley constituency in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The available information is provided in the table.
	Information on the number of applications and school places is not collected centrally therefore information on the number of pupils on roll in primary and secondary schools has been provided.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools—January ea ch year 2004 to 2006— Chorley constituency 
			  Number (headcount) of pupils( 1) 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools 
			 2004 8,815 7,716 
			 2005 8,698 7,719 
			 2006 8,533 7,709 
			 (1) Excludes dually registered pupils.  Source: Schools' Census

Schools: Biometrics

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to determine how many schools are collecting and storing biometric data from their school children.

Jim Knight: holding answer 8 March 2007
	The Department keeps no records of how many schools collect or store biometric data from their school children and has no plans to do so.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1480-81W, on secondary education: curriculum, what guidance he plans to issue to schools on the determination of detailed factual content for their curricula.

Jim Knight: Teachers will use their professional judgment to determine the detailed factual content for their curricula, based on the statutory programmes of study for each subject and on the non-statutory guidance developed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to support them.

Specialised Diplomas

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the level of co-ordination of 14 to 19-year-old education in local authorities in England prior to the introduction of specialised diplomas.

Jim Knight: The Diploma Gateway is the way we are assessing readiness for Diploma delivery in 2008. We have also begun to put in place a system of 14-19 Progress Checks. This will allow local authorities to assess their progress on the delivery of the 14-19 reform programme generally, including in relation to their current attainment and participation.

Sure Start

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are participating in the Sure Start programme in Tamworth constituency.

Beverley Hughes: There are three Sure Start children's centres operational in the Tamworth constituency—Glascote, Exley and Tamworth Early Years. Figures for the number of children participating in Sure Start are not collected centrally. There are approximately 3,400 children under five living in the areas served by these centres with the opportunity to access integrated Sure Start services.

Teachers: Misconduct

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were referred to the General Teaching Council for England for unacceptable professional misconduct under section 1 of the Code of Conduct for Registered Teachers in each of the last five years; and how many were referred under each subsection of the code.

Jim Knight: Figures obtained from the General Teaching Council for England of the number of teachers referred under Section 1 of the Code of Conduct for Registered Teachers (unacceptable professional conduct) in each of the last five financial years, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Conduct referrals 
			 2002/03 49 
			 2003/04 64 
			 2004/05 100 
			 2005/06 91 
			 2006/07 (to 31 January 2007) 117 
			 Total 421 
		
	
	The General Teaching Council for England does not break down how many were referred for consideration under each subsection of the Code. However, it does publish an Annual Report on its registration and regulation activity, which from 2003 onwards has included an analysis of instances where there were findings of unacceptable professional conduct by category. This analysis for the years 2001/03 (two financial years together), 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 is as follows.
	
		
			   Instances 
			   2001/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 
			 Inappropriate language and/or inappropriate conduct in respect of pupils 5 2 4 13 
			 Actions which undermine the school and/or parents 2 3 25 26 
			 Misconduct relating to management and administration of exams 2 4 9 23 
			 Fraud and financial impropriety 2 10 8 15 
			 Misrepresentation of qualifications and other matters 1 2 4 10 
			 Misconduct relating to contractual matters 1 1 5 15 
			 Misconduct outside the workplace including criminal convictions 1 6 7 23 
			 Totals 14 28 62 125

Truancy: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Lancashire pupils had  (a) one and  (b) more than 10 unauthorised absence from school in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The number of pupils absent with the average number of half days missed for each of these pupils due to unauthorised absence in Lancashire local authority is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Half days missed per pupil in maintained primary and secondary schools( 1)  in Lancashire local authority 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools 
			Unauthorised absence   Unauthorised absence 
			  Local authority  Number of day pupils of compulsory school age  Number of pupils absent  Average number of half days missed  Number of day pupils of compulsory school age  Number of pupils absent  Average number of half days missed 
			 2001/02 86,651 8,872 10 72,747 9,069 20 
			 2002/03 85,922 9,110 9 73,566 10,695 17 
			 2003/04 84,338 9,616 9 73,509 11,923 17 
			 2004/05 82,703 10,696 8 72,891 12,388 17 
			 2005/06 81,437 11,634 8 71,500 13,496 15 
			 (1 )Includes middle schools as deemed. 
		
	
	Data are not yet available on the number of times any one individual is absent. Pupil level absence data were collected for the first time via the School Census in January and will be published in March 2007.
	Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy.

Young People

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of  (a) 16,  (b) 17 and  (c) 18-year-olds were in (i) full-time education, (ii) full-time training, (iii) employment and (iv) none of the above in (A) 1995, (B) 2000, (C) 2005 and (D) the last year for which figures are available, broken down by local education authority.

Bill Rammell: The Department publish annual statistics on the participation in education and training by 16 and 17-year-olds in each local area in England. The latest publication can be viewed here:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000645/index.shtml
	This publication is the source of the figures used to answer this question.
	The table, which has been placed in the Library, gives the number and percentage of  (a) 16-year-olds and  (b) 17-year-olds who were in (i) Full-time education, (ii) Work-based learning and (iii) Total in Education and Work-based learning in (A) 1995, (B) 2000 and (C) 2004.
	There is no information available on a comparable basis at the local authority level on the participation of 18-year-olds or the number of young people in employment. 2004 is the latest year for which data are available. The figures refer to young people resident in the local authority at the end of the year.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departments: Personation

Nigel Evans: To ask the Leader of the House what steps his Office has taken to raise awareness of the dangers of identity fraud among employees in his Office.

Jack Straw: Staff based in the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons are regularly reminded of the dangers of identity fraud through intranet bulletins and current security policies. All confidential waste within the Office is shredded to avoid any security risks.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which members of the Casino Advisory Panel were appointed because of their experience in assessing the regenerative impact of a regional casino.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 March 2007
	The skills and experience required by the Chair and members of the Casino Advisory Panel were set out in the role specification that formed part of the recruitment pack. Ministers were seeking people with skills and experience at a senior, strategic level in one or more of the following areas:
	the local or regional planning system;
	regeneration of disadvantaged areas;
	the leisure and tourism industries;
	the evaluation of economic change and its social impact.
	Biographical details of the five individuals selected to become the Chair and members of the Casino Advisory Panel were included in the press release, issued on 30 September 2005, which announced the establishment of the panel.
	The press release is available on the Panel's website at www.culture.gov.uk/cap. Copies have been placed in the House Library.

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Casino Advisory Panel's guidance issued to the participants in the Examinations in Public.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 March 2007
	None. The Casino Advisory Panel is independent from Government and the conduct of the examinations in public (EiP) was entirely a matter for the Panel.
	The House of Lords Merits Committee of Statutory Instruments held an evidence session on the Draft Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Casino Premises Licences) Order 2007 on 13 March 2007.
	Prior to the hearing, interested parties, including the local authorities that bid for the regional casino licences, were invited to submit written evidence to the Committee. It was clear from the evidence submitted that some parties were concerned about some aspects of the EiPs but that many others were satisfied that the Panel had conducted the examinations in a fair and open manner.

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions the Casino Advisory Panel had with Government departments other than her Department on the definition of regeneration benefits in drawing up its report.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 27 March 2007
	 The Casino Advisory Panel was set up to operate entirely independently of the Government. The manner in which it carried out its work, within its agreed terms of reference and remit, was entirely a matter for the panel.
	The panel drew on a large amount of material and evidence in preparing its report. In chapters 4 and 5 of its report, the panel considered regeneration issues and took account of the Department for Communities and Local Government's indices of multiple deprivation.

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions there have been between the Casino Advisory Panel's Chairman and her Department on how the panel reached its definition of social impact since the publication of the panel's report on 30 January.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 27 March 2007
	 There has been no discussion between the Department and the chairman of the Casino Advisory Panel on this topic since the publication of the panel's report on 30 January.

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what briefing on  (a) social impact and  (b) regeneration officials in her Department gave to the Chair of the Casino Advisory Panel prior to his appearance before the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee on 13 March.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 27 March 2007
	 DCMS officials did not provide Professor Crow, Chairman of the Casino Advisory Panel, with briefing on any topic prior to his appearance before the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee on 13 March.

Departments: Advertising

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on  (a) sponsoring newspaper or publication supplements and  (b) funding advertorials in newspapers or publications in the last year for which figures are available; and what the topic of each was.

David Lammy: The Department has had a zero spend on sponsoring newspaper or publication supplements or funding advertorials in newspapers or publications in the last year.

Departments: Paper

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what mechanisms are in place to ensure her Department's economical use of paper.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's policy on the economic use of paper contains the following elements:
	deployment of multifunctional devices for printing and copying that default to double sided output;
	staff are instructed to read on screen rather than print emails and documents unnecessarily;
	internal publications, instructions and manuals are issued online through the Department's intranet;
	the Department uses recycled paper; and,
	the Department uses electronic tendering solutions to reduce the amount of paper work and postage created through the use of manual systems.

Digital Switchover

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1596W, on digital switchover, if she will break down by category of eligibility the estimate of the number of Whitehaven households entitled to targeted assistance.

Shaun Woodward: Our current estimate of the number of people potentially eligible to assistance from the digital switchover help scheme in the Whitehaven area is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Households eligible for support free of charge  Number 
			 Households 75 plus, receiving pension credit 1,900 
			 Disabled households, receiving pension credit/income support/income-based job seekers allowance 1,200 
			 Total 3,100 
			   
			  Households eligible for support for the  £ 40 charge  
			 Households 75 plus 2,600 
			 Disabled households. 2,900 
			 Total 5,500 
			   
			 Total households eligible for help 8,600 
			  Notes: 1. Totals rounded to the nearest hundred. The figures are based on information from the whole Copeland constituency rather than the Whitehaven transmitter coverage area (which covers about 90 per cent. of households in the Copeland constituency) 2. Eligibility for help from the digital switchover help scheme will be by "benefit unit" rather than the whole household definition used by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Office to forecast future household growth. 3. The definition of a "benefit unit" is a couple and any dependent children. It excludes adults deemed to be non-dependents who, if eligible, will be able to claim assistance from the help scheme in their own right.

Gambling

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of whether there was a variance between the Casino Advisory Panel's definition of social impact and the Gambling Act's objective of reducing problem gambling, as referred to in the conclusions of the 13(th) Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments, Drawing special attention to the Draft Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Casino Premises Licences) Order 2007.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 March 2007
	I wrote to the Lord Filkin, Chairman of the Merits Committee, on 21 March to clarify, among other matters, the remit of the Casino Advisory Panel with regard to social impact. In my letter I said:
	"One of the most fundamental arguments made by the Committee, and one which runs throughout the report, is that the Casino Advisory Panel should have placed greater emphasis on the minimisation of harm from gambling. I should explain that this was not the primary consideration we set for the Panel.
	The criteria against which the Panel would assess submissions were set out in the Government's national policy statement on casinos, published on 16 December 2004, which makes reference to the protection of children and vulnerable people. In paragraph 10 of its report, the Panel noted that the Department had asked it to have due regard to the national policy statement.
	The Panel's primary consideration was to ensure that the locations provide the best possible test of social impact. Subject to this, the criteria were also:
	to include areas in need of regeneration (as measured by employment and other social deprivation data)
	to ensure that those areas selected are willing to licence a new casino.
	I did not ask the Panel to make final recommendations based exclusively on the minimisation of harm from gambling. This is because it is the role of the Gambling Commission to monitor and minimise any harm that might arise from new casino gambling. It was the job of the Casino Advisory Panel to select locations that are best able to be monitored rigorously. I am satisfied that is exactly what they have done."
	A copy of my letter has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Gambling

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions her Department has had with HM Treasury on the level of Exchequer funding spent on tackling problem gambling; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly discusses a wide range of gambling subjects with Treasury Ministers.
	The NHS funds via Exchequer funding a number of addiction services many of which will treat problem gamblers.
	The gambling industry also provides funding to tackle problem gambling via payments to the Responsibility in Gambling Trust. The trust has recently announced that the gambling industry has committed to meeting the 3m funding target for 2006.

Judo

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether access to a judo UK coaching certificate is dependent on membership of any organisation.

Richard Caborn: Sports coach UK is the lead agency responsible for supporting the recognised governing bodies to develop and implement the UK coaching certificate (UKCC).
	Sports coach UK advise that a UKCC qualification for judo has now been submitted but is not yet endorsed. Access to existing sport specific UKCC qualifications is not limited to members of specified governing bodies.

Manchester City Council

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was discussed at her meeting with the leader and chief executive of Manchester city council on 5 February.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 March 2007
	I discussed a range of issues with the leader and chief executive of Manchester city council on 5 February.
	As part of this discussion I explained the next steps in the process of finalising the local authority areas for the 17 new casinos permitted under the Gambling Act 2005, following the publication of the Casino Advisory Panel report on 30 January; the requirement to consult Scottish and Welsh Ministers; the need to give the panel's report detailed consideration before deciding whether to accept their recommendations; and the need for Parliament to approve that decision.

Millennium Commission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the topics were of the 10 Millennium Commission documents destroyed in the Iron Mountain fire in July 2006.

Richard Caborn: As noted in the reply given by Lord Davies of Oldham in another place on 2 November 2006, House of Lords,  Official Report, column WA65, 509 boxes of Millennium Commission records were destroyed in a fire at the warehouse in Twelvetrees Crescent, Bow, London in July 2006. As further noted in the reply given by Lord Davies in another place on 22 January 2007, House of Lords,  Official Report, column WA205, 10 documents within these 509 boxes are likely to have contained references to the millennium dome.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Asylum Seekers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much was paid  (a) gross and  (b) net of asylum support in backdated payments of income-related benefits to those granted refugee status in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many asylum seekers have received backdated payments of income-related benefits since 2000.

James Plaskitt: The information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Benefit Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of benefit fraud he estimates to be due to identity fraud, broken down by benefit; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Identity-related benefit fraud represents between 3 and 6 per cent. of total fraud.
	We are not able to provide a breakdown by benefit but the evidence suggests that identity-related benefit fraud is concentrated mainly in the income-related benefits.
	Where identity fraud is discovered, we take strong action. So far, in 2006-07, we have undertaken 315 successful prosecutions.
	We intend to go further, and will take advantage of the opportunities from biometric development and other cross-government initiatives as they become available.

Benefit Overpayments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much  (a) pension credit,  (b) income support and  (c) jobseeker's allowance was overpaid to claimants due to the claimant in question moving abroad in each of the last five years; and how much in each category was overpaid due to (i) fraud and (ii) error;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the total amount of social security benefits overpaid to claimants due to  (a) fraud and  (b) error who were ineligible for benefits (i) because they lived abroad, (ii) due to long-term hospitalisation, (iii) due to prison detention, (iv) because the claimant had a partner and claimed as a single person, (v) because of claimant identity discrepancies and (vi) because of false claimant documentation in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: Estimates are not available for all benefits as a whole. Estimates of overpayments due to false claimant documentation are not available.
	The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Overpayment of benefit due to living abroad 
			  £ million 
			   Income support  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credit 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Fraud  Customer error  Fraud  Customer error 
			 2001-02 14 1 3 0 38 3 
			 2002-03 14 3 1 0 19 2 
			 2003-04 11 0 1 0 18 7 
			 2004-05 14 1 0 2 23 3 
			 2005-06 7 3 0 2 28 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Overpayment of benefit due to hospitalisation 
			  £ million 
			   Income support  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credit 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Fraud  Customer error  Fraud  Customer error 
			 2002-03 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 2003-04 0 0 0 0 0 3 
			 2004-05 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 2005-06 0 2 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Overpayment of benefits to prisoners 
			  £ million 
			   Income support  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credit 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Fraud  Customer error  Fraud  Customer error 
			 2002-03 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2003-04 3 2 0 0 0 0 
			 2004-05 6 0 0 1 0 0 
			 2005-06 3 1 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Overpayment of benefit due to living together 
			  £ million 
			   Income support  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credit 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Fraud  Customer error  Fraud  Customer error 
			 2001-02 156 5 21 1 4 5 
			 2002-03 172 2 11 2 8 0 
			 2003-04 131 7 12 3 3 1 
			 2004-05 86 6 7 2 4 1 
			 2005-06 61 5 5 0 1 3 
		
	
	
		
			  Overpayment of benefit due to identity discrepancies 
			  £ million 
			   Income support  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credit 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Fraud  Customer error  Fraud  Customer error 
			 2001-02 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2002-03 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 2003-04 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 2004-05 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2005-06 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Notes: 1. All estimates are rounded to the nearest £1 million. 2. All estimates are based on sampling exercises, and are subject to a degree of statistical uncertainty. 3. Estimates for 2003-04 were not published as National Statistics due to concerns about data quality. 4. Not all of the overpayments will necessarily relate to customers who were ineligible for benefit. In some cases they will have been eligible, but to less benefit than they were being paid. 5. Estimates of overpayments of benefit due to hospitalisation, and overpayments to prisoners are not available for 2001-02. 6. Estimates of official error for the above categories are not available. 
		
	
	
		
			  Overpayment of  h ousing  b enefit due to living together 
			  £ million 
			   Housing benefit 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Official error 
			 2002-03 70 0 0 
			 2003-04 20 0 0 
			 2004-05 30 0 0 
			 2005-06 20 0 0 
			  Notes: 1. These estimates refer to the HB expenditure and caseload within the scope of the HBR sample. We assume 15 per cent. of expenditure is missing. Most of this is due to long processing times. For more information see the technical appendix. 2. The estimates will not therefore match the extrapolated figures published in the report "Fraud and Error in the Benefits System April 2005 to March 2006". 3. All expenditure values in the table are rounded to the nearest £10 million. 4. Some estimates may not sum due to rounding. 5. All estimates are based on sampling exercises, and are subject to a degree of statistical uncertainty. 6. Estimate not available for 2001-02.

Departments: Advertising

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to  (a) television,  (b) radio and  (c) print media.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed on 8 June 2001 from parts of the former Department for Social Security, the former Department for Education and Employment, and the Employment Service. Information prior to 2001 is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The following tables detail spend on all advertising and promotional campaigns run by the Department for Work and Pensions for each complete financial year since June 2001.
	
		
			  2005-06 
			  £000 
			  Campaign/subject  TV  Radio  Press 
			 Age positive — — 42 
			 State pension deferral — — 199 
			 State Second Pension — — 695 
			 Pensions Education Fund — — 5 
			 National Pensions Debate — — 188 
			 Pension Credit — 50 1,250 
			 Disability Discrimination Act — 236 526 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 1,987 1,369 1,114 
			 Council tax benefit — — 550 
			 Winter fuel payments — — 899 
			 National Sector campaign   23 
			 Images of disability — — — 
			 Age Partnership Group — — — 
			 Total 1,987 1,655 5,491 
		
	
	
		
			  2004-05 
			  £000 
			  Campaign/subject  TV  Radio  Press 
			 Age positive — — 29 
			 State pension deferral — — 115 
			 Disability Discrimination Act — 1,016 885 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 1,481 1,140 618 
			 Direct payment 2,668 930 4,046 
			 Council tax benefit — 13 661 
			 Pension credit 1,688 47 2,634 
			 Winter fuel payments — — 515 
			 IB reforms pilots — 35 71 
			 Lone parent leaflet promotion marketing — — 216 
			 National vacancy campaign — — 324 
			 Total 5,837 3,181 10,113 
		
	
	
		
			  2003-04 
			  £000 
			  Campaign/subject  TV  Radio  Press 
			 Age positive — — 70 
			 Second state pension — — 216 
			 Pension service awareness — — 906 
			 New deal 3,526 818 1,043 
			 Disability Discrimination Act — 40 — 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 1,835 1,145 1,423 
			 Direct payment 3,594 1,872 5,389 
			 Council tax benefit — — 556 
			 Pension credit 3,571 31 6,305 
			 Winter fuel payments — — 625 
			 Jobseekers direct 1,566 — 66 
			 IB reforms pilot — 45 68 
			 Jobcentre plus customer marketing — — 12 
			 National employer campaign — — 1,158 
			 Total 14,092 3,951 17,838 
		
	
	
		
			  2002-03 
			  £000 
			  Campaign/subject  TV  Radio  Press 
			 Age positive — — 644 
			 Future pensioners/informed choice 1,577 — 1,301 
			 Second state pension — — 489 
			 New deal for musicians — — 33 
			 Disability Discrimination Act — 50 — 
			 Targeting benefit fraud — 35 — 
			 Direct payment — 383 475 
			 Winter fuel payments — — 627 
			 Inherited SERPS — — 646 
			 Total 1,577 468 4,215 
		
	
	The tables do not include the following, as the information is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost:
	spend by non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible
	details of highly localised publicity activity by the Department's customer-facing businesses
	recruitment or procurement advertising
	The figures in these tables refer to media spend only, and exclude production and other costs. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
	All figures are exclusive of VAT.

Departments: Contracts

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which functions of his Department have been privatised or outsourced since May 2005.

Anne McGuire: Since May 2005 the Department has outsourced the following functions:
	The processing of winter fuel payments;
	The pension credit application line;
	Clerical case management for some Child Support Agency cases;
	Support for Child Support Agency debt collection.
	In addition since 2005 the Department has re-let a number of deals for services that had originally been outsourced before 2005. These were:
	Office services—contract awarded September 2006.
	Medical services—contract awarded September 2005.
	None of these outsourced services are delivered outside the United Kingdom.

Departments: PFI

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  for which future projects his Department is considering a private finance initiative deal; what the estimated lifetime value of each potential contract is; and what period each will cover;
	(2)  what percentage of his Department's budget was taken up by private finance initiative commitments in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what percentage of his Department's budget will be taken up by private finance initiative commitments in each of the next 10 years assuming that the budget grows in line with the Treasury's estimates for gross domestic product over the period; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Department will consider PFI as an option when assessing the best value for money route to deliver its services. The Department for Work and Pensions uses a PFI route to obtain estates services under the Private Sector Resource Initiative for the Management of the Estate (PRIME) contract. PRIME is a 20 year PFI partnership deal, competitively let to Trillium (now Land Securities Trillium) on 1 April 1998. The deal involved the transfer of ownership and management of the majority of the then Department of Social Security premises to the private sector. Following the creation of the Department for Work and Pensions, PRIME was expanded in 2003 to cover ex-Employment Service estate. The Department secured a range of important new value for money mechanisms, bringing the deal in line with new Government guidelines for PFI deals.
	The Department currently has no plans to use PFI in new areas, but the option will be considered for future services, except IS/IT which under Government policy are not considered suitable for PFI.
	The percentage of the Department's total budget taken up by PFI commitments in each of the years since the Department was formed in 2001 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2000-01 0.30 
			 2001-02 0.29 
			 2002-03 0.29 
			 2003-04 0.37 
			 2004-05 0.53 
			 2005-06 0.54 
			 2006-07 0.50 
		
	
	The forecast percentage of the Department's total budget that will be taken up by PFI commitments in each of the years to the end of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 period is shown in the following table. In line with Treasury guidance it is not considered appropriate to model the Department's budget beyond 2011 based on the gross domestic product projections.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2007-08 0.48 
			 2008-09 0.46 
			 2009-10 0.45 
			 2010-11 0.44 
		
	
	In line with Treasury guidance the total budget figure comprises both the Department's Delegated Expenditure Limit and Annually Managed Expenditure. However, it should be noted that this Department's Annually Managed Expenditure largely covers the cost of benefit payments; it is not therefore a potential target for PFI in the way that other departments expenditure might be, for example deals for bridge or school building or maintenance.

Disability Living Allowance

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households are in receipt of each component of disability living allowance for a child, broken down by  (a) region,  (b) local authority and  (c) parliamentary constituency.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available by household. Information on the number of children receiving disability living allowance in each region, local authority and parliamentary constituency has been placed in the Library.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the 16 hour rule; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The 16 hour rule, defined in regulations, affects entitlement to housing benefit and jobseeker's allowance (JSA). People may study for up to 16 hours a week and still be entitled to those benefits, but their benefit entitlement ends if they exceed 16 hours. Financial support for full-time students (with some exceptions) is the responsibility of the education and not the benefits system. The 16 hour rule exists to support that principle and, in the case of JSA, to ensure that people concentrate on looking for a job.
	Members of the Foyer Federation continue to lobby for changes to the housing benefit rules to allow young people at risk of homelessness to receive housing benefit while in full-time study. We accept that some young people in these circumstances may need a second chance at learning and are considering how we might be able to help. We also continue to receive approaches to waive the JSA 16 hour rule in specific circumstances. Our response is to clarify the rule's purpose and effect and that the Employment and Training Act 1973 allows us to target unemployed people who face particular labour market disadvantage, by removing them from JSA and the requirement to actively seek work, instead paying them training allowances to undertake full-time training. We are using these arrangements in the 'Adult Learning Option' pilots which are supporting our customers towards achieving a Level 2 qualification. The budget that supports training allowances is finite and this route to full-time learning has to be carefully targeted on those most in need.

Pensions: Armed Forces

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in total have received a pre-1950 widow's pension arising from their husbands' service in the armed forces prior to August 1950; how many women are receiving such a pension; what the value is of such a pension; what the cost of such pensions was in the last year for which figures are available; and what the total cost of such pensions has been since their inception.

Derek Twigg: holding answer  12 March 2007
	I have been asked to reply.
	Neither the Department for Work and Pensions nor the Ministry of Defence holds the specific information requested on the number of women who received—or are still receiving—a widow's pension arising from their husband's service in the armed forces prior to August 1950.
	I can confirm that there are 38,425 War Widows pensions in payment arising from their spouse's service both before and after August 1950. We cannot ascertain how many of those will be before August 1950 without trawling through the individual records which would require disproportionate administrative effort.
	In relation to the question of costs I can confirm that the current average weekly value of a widow's pension is £100.76 for all war widows irrespective of date. This gives an annual cost for all widows' pensions of approximately £200 million for the period up to 31 December 2006. The overall average weekly payment to widows or widowers including supplementary allowances is £191.09.
	Detailed financial information relating to war pension costs has been issued on a quarterly basis by the Defence Analytical Services Agency since 2001 and the relevant publications are available in the Library of the House.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who claimed  (a) incapacity benefit,  (b) severe disablement allowance and  (c) income support for incapacity who moved from permitted work into employment of 16 hours a week or more in each of the last three years.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Evaluations carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions, which consider the stepping stone effect of permitted work, have been published.
	Copies of the following reports have been placed in the Library:
	A Stepping Stone to Employment: An Evaluation of the Permitted Work Rules—Wave 2 (2004) [wave 2]; and
	Final Outcomes from the Permitted Work Rules, Department for Work and Pensions Research Report No.268. (2005) [wave 3]

Social Security Benefits: Overseas Residence

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many types of benefits are paid to UK citizens who live outside the UK but within the European economic area under European Community Regulation 1408/71.

James Plaskitt: The following benefits are payable to UK citizens living outside the UK but within the European economic area, subject to the EU social security regulations and the individual benefits' rules.
	Widows' and bereavement benefits: widowed mother's allowance, widow's pension, bereavement allowance, widowed parent's allowance and bereavement payment.
	Benefits for accidents at work and industrial diseases: industrial injuries disablement benefit, industrial death benefit, retirement allowance, constant attendance allowance, reduced earnings allowance, exceptionally severe disablement allowance, unemployability supplement.
	Family benefits: guardian's allowance (administered by HM Revenue and Customs), child benefit (administered by HM Revenue and Customs), child tax credit (administered by HM Revenue and Customs).
	Disability living allowance or attendance allowance (payable if the claimant started receiving it before 1 June 1992 while living in the UK).
	Carer's allowance (payable if the claimant started receiving it before 1 June1992 and the person being cared for is also getting disability living allowance or attendance allowance).
	Winter fuel payment (payable if the claimant first started receiving the winter fuel payment while living in the UK).
	Statutory sick pay/statutory maternity pay (paid by the employer and administered by HMRC).
	State pension.
	Maternity allowance.
	Contribution-based jobseeker's allowance.
	Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance.

Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on administering the benefit fraud hotline in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available broken down by month.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departments: Paper

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what mechanisms are in place to ensure his Department's economical use of paper.

Peter Hain: The NIO's overall policy on the consumption of any resource is to reduce, reuse and recycle. In taking this forward we give advice and guidance to staff on a range of sustainability issues via our intranet and through awareness seminars.
	With regard to economical use of paper the policy is to avoid printing or copying documents unnecessarily, and if printing or copying is necessary to use a printer or copier capable of double sided printing. In addition we have greatly reduced the circulation of information on paper in favour of circulation by electronic means.
	In order to measure the effectiveness of this policy we have initiated a mechanism whereby we monitor the purchase of A4 paper.

Elections

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many election petitions have been heard in the courts in Northern Ireland since 2000; what the outcome was of each case in which no proceedings are active; which election each concerned; and what the nature was of the petition.

David Hanson: There has only been one election petition heard in the courts in Northern Ireland since 2000. This was in relation to a polling place at the parliamentary election in 2001 which remained open after the statutory closing time of 10.00 pm. The court determined that the votes polled after 10.00 pm had not affected the result.

Electoral Register

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of individual registration in the recent Northern Ireland elections.

David Hanson: The Electoral Commission will be commenting on individual registration and other administrative matters to do with the Assembly election in its statutory report to be published in June 2007.

English Language

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government is taking to provide free English language courses for foreign citizens living in Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: In Northern Ireland the Department for Employment and Learning's Strategy is to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses as part of its mainstream Further Education provision.
	Provision is accessible through the network of Further Education Colleges located across all areas of NI. Although most colleges offer access to ESOL free of charge (subject to standard residency requirements, applicable across the UK) some colleges exercise their right to charge a small registration fee.
	The Department gives the highest weighting within the Further Education Funding Formula to ESOL provision. There is no cap on provision and the funding incentive for colleges has clearly benefited the uptake and delivery of this provision.

Fly Tipping

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were charged with dumping offences in each local authority area in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years; and what penalty was imposed in each case.

David Cairns: The Environment and Heritage Service took over responsibility for waste management from the district councils in December 2003. Information is not available prior to that date. Details on convictions, acquittals and associated fines for each district council area from late 2003 to date are set out in the following tables.
	
		
			   Number   Number  
			  Council  Convicted  Acquitted  Total 2003  Total fines (£)  Convicted  Acquitted  Total 2004  Total fines (£) 
			 Antrim — — — — 1 — 1 100 
			 Ards — — — — — — — — 
			 Armagh — — — — — — — — 
			 Ballymena 2 — 2 225 1 — 1 150 
			 Ballymoney — — — — — — — — 
			 Banbridge — — — — — — — — 
			 Belfast — — — — 8 — 8 1,225 
			 Carrickfergus — — — — — — — — 
			 Castlereagh — — — — — — — — 
			 Coleraine — — — — 3 — 3 400 
			 Cookstown — — — — 1 — 1 500 
			 Craigavon — — — — — — — — 
			 Derry 1 — 1 120 1 — 1 50 
			 Down — — — — 2 — 2 5,450 
			 Dungannon — — — — 1 — 1 100 
			 Fermanagh — — — — — — — — 
			 Larne — — — — 2 1 3 2,425 
			 Limavady — — — — — — — — 
			 Lisburn — — — — — — — — 
			 Magherafelt — — — — 1 — 1 1,500 
			 Moyle — — — — — — — — 
			 Newry Mourne — — — — — — — — 
			 Newtownabbey — — — — 1 — 1 4,000 
			 North Down — — — — — — — — 
			 Omagh — — — — 1 — 1 300 
			 Strabane — — — — 1 — 1 3,000 
			 Totals — — 3 345 — — 25 19,200 
		
	
	
		
			   Number   Number  
			  Council  Convicted  Acquitted  Total 2005  Total fines (£)  Convicted  Acquitted  Total 2006  Total fines ( £) 
			 Antrim 4 — 4 4,850 9 — 9 9,750 
			 Ards 1 — 1 450 8 2 10 21,300 
			 Armagh 3 — 3 1,200 — — — — 
			 Ballymena 2 — 2 1,800 2 — 2 500 
			 Ballymoney 7 — 7 4,250 12 — 12 6,450 
			 Banbridge — — — — — — — — 
			 Belfast 5 — 5 30,000 8 — 8 7,900 
			 Carrickfergus 1 — 1 1,400 — — — — 
			 Castlereagh — — — — 3 — 3 13,000 
			 Coleraine 3 — 3 1,800 15 1 16 14,800 
			 Cookstown 1 — 1 250 4 — 4 6,500 
			 Craigavon — — — — 2 — 2 2,950 
			 Derry 3 — 3 17,000 5 — 5 7,450 
			 Down 2 — 2 1,100 — — — — 
			 Dungannon 5 — 5 2,650 4 7 11 13,850 
			 Fermanagh 1 — 1 1,000 3 — 3 3,500 
			 Larne 1 — 1 300 1 — 1 12,500 
			 Limavady 3 — 3 5,620 5 — 5 4,600 
			 Lisburn 7 — 7 7,850 7 — 7 10,500 
			 Magherafelt 3 — 3 14,600 3 — 3 0 
			 Moyle — — — — 3 — 3 3,500 
			 Newry Mourne 3 — 3 1,600 2 — 2 1,400 
			 Newtownabbey 1 — 1 4,500 1 — 1 0 
			 North Down — — — — 1 — 1 1,000 
			 Omagh 1 — 1 100 7 1 8 5,700 
			 Strabane 3 — 3 6,850 7 — 7 11,000 
			 Totals — — 60 109,170 — — 123 158,150

Fly Tipping

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of illegal dumping were recorded in each local authority area in each of the last six years; and how much was spent by each local authority in cleaning up illegal dumping over the same period.

David Cairns: Incidents of illegal dumping investigated by Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) are set out for each district council area in the following table. Records on the clean-up costs of illegal dumping are not held either by district councils or EHS.
	
		
			   Total number 
			  Council  2004  2005  2006 
			 Antrim 76 60 65 
			 Ards 93 92 99 
			 Armargh 124 74 65 
			 Ballymena 23 32 64 
			 Ballymoney 13 18 8 
			 Banbridge 24 42 41 
			 Belfast 83 58 67 
			 Carrickfergus 7 10 26 
			 Castlereagh 7 24 31 
			 Coleraine 21 29 33 
			 Cookstown 22 44 45 
			 Craigavon 50 83 106 
			 Derry City 61 34 43 
			 Down 124 75 98 
			 Dungannon 68 76 93 
			 Fermanagh 66 51 91 
			 Larne 29 24 31 
			 Limavady 18 46 36 
			 Lisburn 66 96 68 
			 Magherafelt 33 30 39 
			 Moyle 14 19 26 
			 Newry Mourne 62 90 72 
			 Newtownabbey 50 50 51 
			 North Down 16 34 16 
			 Omagh 51 57 58 
			 Strabane 25 80 39 
			 Totals 1226 1328 1411

Hearing Aids: Digital Technology

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have received a digital hearing aid in each health trust area since their introduction in Northern Ireland; and what the average number of people on waiting lists for digital hearing aids was in each health trust area in the same period.

Paul Goggins: Information on the number of people receiving digital hearing aids in Northern Ireland was first collected for the quarter ending 31 March 2006, and is presented in Table 1. More recent information is not available at this time.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of patients fitted with digital hearing aids during quarter ending 31 March 2006, by health trust 
			  Hospitals  Patients fitted during quarter 
			 Royal group of hospitals 325 
			 Belfast city hospital 299 
			 Mater hospital 160 
			 Ulster community and hospital 182 
			 Lagan Valley hospital 96 
			 Downe hospital 54 
			 Causeway/united hospitals 404 
			 Armagh and Dungannon 256 
			 Craigavon area hospital 213 
			 Daisy hill hospital 89 
			 Altnagelvin hospital 265 
			 Sperrin lakeland 232 
			 Northern ireland 2,575 
			  Source: Community Information Branch return AUDI 
		
	
	Information on the number of people waiting for a digital hearing aid is only available for 31 March 2006. Information is therefore not available on the average number of people waiting for digital hearing aids. Information on the number of people waiting for a hearing assessment/reassessment at 31 March 2006 is presented in Table 2.
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of patients waiting for a hearing assessment/reassessment at 31 March 2006, by health trust( 1) 
			  Trust/hospital  Patients waiting 
			 Royal hospital 0 
			 Causeway/United hospitals 64 
			 UCHT 349 
			 Lagan Valley 0 
			 Belfast city hospital 278 
			 Mater hospital 148 
			 Armagh and Dungannon 426 
			 Craigavon area hospital 379 
			 Newry and Mourne 138 
			 Altnagelvin 38 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 302 
			 Downe Hospital 62 
			 Northern Ireland 2,184 
			 (1) The information in the table is based on where a client is treated and not necessarily where the client lives, i.e. a client from the northern board may be seen in the Royal hospital and their details included in the eastern board.  Source: Community Information Branch return AUDI

Homeopathy

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people requested homoeopathic treatment in each health trust area in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Information on the number of people who have requested homeopathic treatment in each of the health trusts is not available.
	However, a survey of 452 cancer patients in Northern Ireland carried out by Action Cancer and the Gerard Lynch centre, Belvoir Park hospital, in 2004 found that 24.6 per cent. would like the opportunity of using homeopathy if it was provided as part of their health service treatment. The survey was carried out at outpatient facilities which deliver chemotherapy and outpatient review appointments at Altnagelvin, Antrim, Craigavon and the Ulster hospitals. Results were also gathered from the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre which refers to Belvoir Park, Belfast City and Royal Victoria hospitals.

Lung Cancer

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he intends to implement the objectives of the Lung Cancer Patients' Charter in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: On 9 November 2006 my Department published a Cancer Control Programme for Northern Ireland. This plan sets out recommendations and actions for the further strengthening of cancer services, including lung cancer services, and the setting of standards for the delivery of those services. In addition the Northern Ireland Cancer Network has established a Regional Lung Cancer Group which reviews existing standards and guidelines and develops regionally agreed standards of care. I am confident that this programme of work aligns effectively with the principles set out in the Lung Cancer Patients' Charter.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vehicle tax evasion offences were recorded in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years; and what range of penalties were imposed for vehicle tax evasion offences over the same period.

David Cairns: Before the implementation of a new IT system in April 2002, the information was not held in a format which enables the figures requested to be collated without disproportionate effort.
	
		
			   Offence 
			   On-the-road unlicensed detections  Failure to make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)( 1)  Continuous Registration (CR)( 1) 
			 2002-03 34,567 22,394 — 
			 2003-04 27,189 47,556 3,256 
			 2004-05 25,112 — 67,155 
			 2005-06 34,957 — 46,779 
			 2006-February 2007 30,218 — 46,394 
			 (1) The offence of failing to make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)was superseded by the introduction of the Continuous Registration legislation in December 2003. 
		
	
	Penalties for on-the-road detections of unlicensed vehicles penalties are based on a standard calculation of 1.5 or 2 times the arrears of duty outstanding, depending on the offence, plus a £30 administration fee. The maximum fine that can be imposed by the court on conviction is a level 3 (£1,000) or level 4 (£2,500) fine, depending on the offence, or 5 times the amount of the vehicle excise duty chargeable, whichever is the greater.
	Statutory Off Road Notification legislation was introduced in December 2002 requiring the keeper to renew their vehicle licence or to complete a SORN declaration if the vehicle remained unlicensed. The penalty for failure to comply was £45, reduced to £25 if paid within 28 days. The maximum fine that could be imposed by the court on conviction was at level 3 (£1,000).
	The penalty for failure to comply with Continuous Registration legislation is £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 28 days. The minimum fine that could be imposed is at level 3 (£1,000).

Recycling

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many public recycling facilities are in operation in each district council area in Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: Statistics for such facilities in each district council area have been included in the three regional Waste Management Plans. The following table contains a breakdown of the numbers of facilities by district council area.
	
		
			  Council area  Civic amenity sites/household waste recycling centres  Recycling points/bring sites 
			 Antrim 3 2 
			 Ards 7 10 
			 Armagh 4 13 
			 Ballymena 2 9 
			 Ballymoney 2 12 
			 Banbridge 3 27 
			 Belfast 9 39 
			 Carrickfergus 1 3 
			 Castlereagh 11 2 
			 Coleraine 6 12 
			 Cookstown 2 17 
			 Craigavon 2 8 
			 Deny 7 15 
			 Down 4 42 
			 Dungannon 6 25 
			 Fermanagh 4 20 
			 Larne 2 9 
			 Limavady 4 7 
			 Lisburn 2 18 
			 Magherafelt 8 19 
			 Moyle 1 10 
			 Newry 7 36 
			 Newtownabbey 1 0 
			 North Down 2 2 
			 Omagh 1 26 
			 Strabane 9 6

Schools: Fires

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much fires in schools in Northern Ireland cost in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: Information on the cost of damage to schools in Northern Ireland caused by fires in each of the last 10 yeas is not readily available. This information has been requested from the Education and Library Boards and will be provided to the hon. Gentleman in writing as soon as possible.

Social Housing

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new social housing dwellings he expects to be built in Northern Ireland in the next financial year.

David Hanson: The target is to start 1,500 social houses in 2007-08.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department were assigned to benefit fraud investigations in each of the last six years, broken down by grade.

David Hanson: The number of staff in the Department for Social Development who were assigned to benefit fraud investigations, broken down by grade, is shown in the following table. Reliable information can be provided only for the current year and the previous two years.
	
		
			   As at 31 March: 
			  Position at  2005  2006  2007 
			 Grade 7 1 1 1 
			 Deputy Principal 1 1 1 
			 Staff Officer 5 6 6 
			 Executive Officer 1 17 18 20 
			 Social Security Officer 1 105 112 112 
			 Social Security Officer 2 41 41 32 
			 Administrative Assistant 9 13 7 
			 Temporary Administrative Assistant 3 5 3 
			 Typist 2 3 3 
			 Total 184 200 185

Taxis: Disabled

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government is taking to increase the availability of licensed disabled access taxis in Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: Regulations already require all Belfast Public Hire taxis to be wheelchair accessible and their numbers have increased from 239 in 2002-03 to 380 in 2005-06.
	In August 2006 I announced that a Door-2-Door transport scheme will operate in 27 towns and cities providing services across Northern Ireland for disabled and older people who find it difficult or impossible to use conventional public transport. This has led to the licensing of a further 25 accessible taxis, bringing the estimated total to 1,500—equivalent to approximately 14 per cent. of all licensed taxis.
	The draft Taxis Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 laid on 9 January contains measures intended to increase the availability of accessible taxis by requiring taxi operators to provide more taxis designed to meet the needs of older people and people with disabilities and to allow only accessible taxis to use taxi ranks. On restoration, responsibility for policy and legislation on taxis will transfer to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Teachers: Pensions

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will amend the Teachers' Superannuation Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 to allow teachers from independent schools to join the Northern Ireland Teachers' Superannuation Scheme; and what estimate he has made of the number of teachers affected as a result of the exclusion of independent schools from the scheme.

Maria Eagle: The Teachers' Pensions etc (Reform Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007, coming into operation on 1 April 2007, make provision for teachers in an independent school to join the Northern Ireland Teachers' Superannuation Scheme, subject to certain conditions being met by the governing body.
	There are currently 18 independent schools in Northern Ireland employing approximately 158 teachers.

Translink: Crimes of Violence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff assaults were recorded on the Translink network in each of the last five years; how many people were charged with assaulting a member of Translink staff over the same period; and how many convictions occurred as a result.

David Cairns: Translink has advised that figures for the number of assaults on Translink staff are as set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Northern Ireland Railways (by financial year) 
			   Number of assaults 
			 2006-07 7 
			 2005-06 9 
			 2004-05 12 
			 2003-04 5 
			 2002-03 9 
		
	
	
		
			  Ulsterbus and Metro (by calendar year) 
			   Number of assaults 
			 2006 21 
			 2005 34 
			 2004 27 
			 2003 (1)— 
			 2002 (1)— 
			 (1) Information relating to this period is not held. 
		
	
	Translink has also advised that it does not have information to produce accurate statistics on the number of persons charged with assault of Translink staff. Translink has advised that it instigated prosecution against no more than 10 individuals in the period.

Translink: Fares

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of fare evasion were recorded on the Translink network in each of the last five years; and what penalties were imposed in each case.

David Cairns: Translink has advised that not all of the information requested is available. Translink's recorded numbers of fare evasion incidents are as set out in the following tables. Numbers in brackets indicate those dealt with through the courts or by way of formal caution.
	
		
			  Northern Ireland Railways 
			   Incidents of fare evasion  Average fine (£) 
			 2006 52 (25) 165 
			 2005 54 (31) 127 
			 2004 24 (16) 90 
			 2003 36 (17) 94 
			 2002 36 (20) 90 
		
	
	
		
			  Ulsterbus and Metro 
			   Incidents of fare evasion  Average fine 
			 2006 81 None 
			 2005 (1)— — 
			 2004 (1)— — 
			 2003 (1)— — 
			 2002 (1)— — 
			 (1) Figures not available

Translink: Fares

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the percentage change in fares was across the Translink network in each of the past 10 years.

David Cairns: The following table sets out details of average fare increases for 2007-08 together with increases in each of the previous nine years. The Department does not hold data for cross border rail services for all the years in question.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Ulsterbus 5.0 4.0 4.5 5.0 4.5 3.0 5.0 5.0 9.0 0.0 
			 Citybus/Metro 8.3 4.0 4.5 5.0 4.5 5.0 5.0 2.0 7.0 0.0 
			 Northern Ireland Rail-local 3.6 4.0 4.5 5.0 4.5 5.0 5.0 5.0 10.0 0.0 
			 Northern Ireland Rail-cross border n/a n/a n/a n/a 4.5 5.0 5.0 n/a 6.0 0.0

Translink: Vandalism

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were  (a) convicted and  (b) charged with vandalising Translink property in each of the last five years; and what the average penalty imposed in each case was.

David Cairns: Translink has advised that it does not maintain records of unsuccessful prosecutions. The number of successful prosecutions for vandalism is as set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of convictions  Average penalty (£) 
			 2006 5 400.00 
			 2005 8 92.10 
			 2004 7 291.70 
			 2003 6 105.50 
			 2002 5 24.00

Translink: Vandalism

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of vandalism to Translink property were recorded in each of the last five years; and what steps he is taking to reduce such figures.

David Cairns: Translink has provided details of incidents of vandalism in the following tables.
	Table 1 refers to vandalism on Northern Ireland Railways property, covering damage to buildings, track and trains. The majority of incidents relate to damage caused to trains.
	
		
			  Table  1 : Recorded number of incidents 
			 2006 449 
			 2005 367 
			 2004 408 
			 2003 543 
			 2002 636 
		
	
	Table 2 refers to vandalism on property of Ulsterbus and Metro.
	
		
			  Table 2: Recorded number of incidents 
			   To buildings etc.  To  b uses 
			 2006 79 882 
			 2005 170 1,002 
			 2004 53 797 
			 2003 n/a n/a 
			 2002 n/a n/a 
		
	
	Translink is seeking to tackle vandalism by expanding CCTV coverage both at Translink premises and on board buses and trains. Translink may also employ covert surveillance, where appropriate.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of single farm payments in England are paid to persons who do not own farms.

Barry Gardiner: People who claim under the single payment scheme (SPS) must be farmers with eligible land and payment entitlements. Under the scheme rules a farmer is defined as a natural or legal person, or a group of natural or legal persons, whatever legal status is granted to the group and its members by national law, whose holding is situated within the EU and who exercises an agricultural activity.
	SPS claimants will include farmers who own farms, rent land and new entrants to the scheme who have land and have brought or leased in entitlements, allowing them to claim.

Air Pollution

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the legal consequences are for the United Kingdom of breaches of European standards for particulate matter air pollution in London in 2005 and 2006.

Ben Bradshaw: The primary legal consequence of breaches of air quality limit values is that the European Commission may bring the matter before the European Court of Justice under Article 226 of the European Community Treaty. Further sanctions are available to the Commission in cases where any member state fails to comply with the resulting Court judgment.
	In the UK, compliance problems are not widespread—they generally apply at highly localised hotspots (such as a street corner, which are greatly influenced by traffic). In 2005, most people (around 99.9 per cent. of the population) were already breathing air that complied with the PM10 standard.
	The Ambient Air Quality Directive places a statutory obligation on the Government to produce a plan which explains action that we will take to bring areas of exceedence back into compliance.
	Our national air quality strategy review, currently under way, considers additional policy measures that may be needed to help us achieve national and European air quality standards.

Badgers: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has made for arrangements for badger culling by farmers in the event of a decision to license culling.

Ben Bradshaw: No decision has been made on badger culling for control of TB including on the organisational questions. Therefore, no arrangements have been put in place.

Badgers: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has  (a) conducted and  (b) evaluated on the separation of healthy from bovine TB-infected badgers for the purposes of culling.

Ben Bradshaw: We have not conducted specific research on the separation of healthy from bTB-infected badgers in order to identify badgers to be culled.
	The research we have evaluated, such as the results emerging from the randomised badger culling trial, shows that bTB is a chronic disease which is endemic and self-maintained at a substantial level in the badger population over large areas of the country. This means that with the available limited blood test having to be repeated three times at intervals on individual animals, it is impractical and verging on the impossible to confidently separate healthy badgers from bTB-infected badgers. Even if a more accurate and rapid test were available, tackling bTB in this chronically infected wildlife reservoir by removing test-positive individuals is not considered a scientifically sound or practical policy.
	We have also considered what use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for detection of Mycobacterium bovis in the environment could be in this instance. While this is yet to be validated for use in the field, it is clear from the researchers that, at the most, it may be possible to use this to identify areas, such as setts, where Mycobacterium bovis is present. However, this would still mean we could not identify individuals that were infected or, at this stage, whether the bacteria detected were viable and infectious.

British Waterways: Finance

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what effect the claim on the reserve of non-cash programme resources to cover provision for disallowance arising from Common Agricultural Policy schemes will have on  (a) the previously announced 2007 budget costs to British Waterways and  (b) the future funding levels of British Waterways; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 14 March 2007
	 None.

Common Agricultural Policy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the European Commission to make a decision on disallowances arising from Common Agricultural Policy schemes.

Barry Gardiner: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2182W. Detailed discussions will take place with the Commission over a number of years before a final figure is reached. The Government are committed to defending the UK's interests in these discussions.

Departments: Orders and Regulations

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the total administrative cost of complying with his Department's regulations, as defined in The Defra Simplification Plan "Maximising Outcomes, Minimising Burdens" November 2006, in each year since 2001.

Barry Gardiner: DEFRA, in common with other Government Departments, took part in an exercise during 2005 and 2006 to measure the total administrative burdens imposed by regulations that were in force in May 2005. This exercise had not been undertaken before. The total annual administrative burden imposed on business by DEFRA regulations was assessed to be £527.8 million per year. DEFRA has made a commitment to reduce this burden by 25 per cent. by 2010.
	My Department's simplification plan 'Maximising Outcomes, Minimising Burdens' which was published in December 2006 provided an update on progress so far. During the year June 2005-May 2006 an additional £13.5 million of administrative burdens was imposed by new regulations. Against this, simplification initiatives during the period have delivered savings of £51.5 million, a net reduction of £38 million.
	DEFRA will publish its next simplification plan toward the end of 2007.

Environmental Stewardship Scheme

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Higher Level Stewardship Scheme applications were  (a) received and  (b) approved by (i) English Nature in each month from 2004 until the transfer of the scheme to Natural England and (ii) by Natural England since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: pursuant to the reply, 28 February 2007, Official Report, c. 1325W
	The figures in the Natural England column for August 2006, November 2006 and February 2007 were incorrect. The correct figures are in the table. The rest of the answer remains correct.
	The first Higher Level Stewardship agreements commenced on 1 February 2006 and were administered by the Rural Development Service (RDS) rather than English Nature. The environmental land management functions of the Rural Development Service then transferred, on 1 October 2006, to form part of Natural England.
	The Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme accepts applications on a quarterly rather than monthly basis. The following table sets out applications received and approved by both the RDS and Natural England during the quarterly timeframes the hon. Member refers to:
	
		
			  Quarterly cycle date  Applications received  Applications approved 
			  Rural Development Service   
			 February 2006 322 287 
			 May 2006 304 269 
			 August 2006 387 319 
			
			  Natural England   
			 November 2006 588 357 
			 February 2007 385 114 
		
	
	The data contained in this table is a snap-shot. As such, it will be subject to future change as Natural England finalises HLS processing. This particularly applies to the February 2007 agreements. There are still a number of cases to be finalised between applicants and Natural England, and figures will change accordingly.

Environmental Stewardship Scheme

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1325W, on the Environmental Stewardship Scheme, how many higher level stewardship scheme applications approved in 2006 were received prior to 1 February 2006.

Barry Gardiner: Regrettably, I have to advise that I am unable to provide a figure which shows precisely the number of applications approved in 2006 that were received prior to 1 February 2006. This is because the IT system necessary to record such data was not fully in place for the period referred to. In order to now provide this data would necessitate a large-scale manual exercise which would be of disproportionate cost.

Farms: Pupils

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the role of school visits to farms in educating children.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department has not received any recent representations on the importance of school visits to farms for educating children. However, through our Growing Schools programme, we work very closely with organisations that promote children's understanding of food and agriculture, either through visits to farms or through growing within the school grounds.
	We support Access to Farms, a national partnership that encourages school visits to farms, and part funded it to develop training and accreditation for farmers who host school visits. We also support and part-fund the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, which publicises farms and gardens to schools and manages a network of more than 60 school farms. We are working closely with DEFRA on the forthcoming Year of Food and Farming, and will publicise it to schools though the Growing Schools programme.

Gyrodactylus Salaris

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what measures he is taking to keep rivers safe from Gyrodactylus salaris; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his contingency plans are for dealing with an outbreak of Gyrodactylus salaris; what risk assessment he has made of Gyrodactylus salaris entering into the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Gyrodactylus salaris (Gs) is a parasite that has the potential to cause widespread losses in both wild and farmed Atlantic salmon. The disease Gyrodactylosis, caused by the parasite, is subject to the notification requirements and control arrangements of the Diseases of Fish Act 1937 (as amended).
	The UK is free of Gs and we are doing all we can to ensure that remains the case. In March 2004, following intensive discussion in the EU, we succeeded in re-negotiating robust additional fish health guarantees to safeguard against the introduction of Gs through trade in live fish (Commission Decision 2004/453). The guarantees, in effect, allow movement of live fish of susceptible species only from areas that are considered free of the parasite.
	The revised additional guarantees were agreed only after they had been scrutinised by leading UK fish health scientists and assessed by them as posing a negligible risk of introducing Gs into the UK. Subsequently, the EU Permanent Advisory Network for Disease in Aquaculture, made up of international fish health scientists, also considered the measures and came to the same conclusion.
	DEFRA has contingency plans in place which have been drafted in close consultation with the Environment Agency, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and other interested parties. In the event of identification of Gs in either farmed or wild freshwater fish stocks, the objective would be to contain and, if possible, eradicate the parasite. Officials are also in regular contact with their counterparts in other Departments and the devolved Administrations about contingency planning.
	My Department has also carried out publicity campaigns to raise awareness among the general public (especially those involved in angling) about the dangers of introducing Gs and other diseases through travel to and from high-risk areas. A further campaign is being considered for the near future. Advice on how to keep Gs out of the country is contained in our "Keep Fish Diseases Out" series of guidance leaflets.

Hunting

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Countryside Alliance on the operation of the hunting legislation.

Barry Gardiner: The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with the Countryside Alliance about the Hunting Act 2004.

International Whaling Commission: Poland

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Polish Foreign Minister on Poland's possible membership of the International Whaling Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Secretary of State and the Foreign Secretary have recently jointly written to Poland and 11 other EU and accession states encouraging them to join the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
	In support of the UK's position, I raised the issue of IWC membership at a recent meeting of EU Environment Ministers in Luxembourg. I also sent copies of our recent publication 'Protecting Whales—A Global Responsibility' to 57 countries, including Poland, encouraging them to join the effort to protect these species.
	DEFRA officials also ensure that Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts in the relevant capitals are briefed, and engage in discussion with their counterparts on whaling at every appropriate opportunity. This ensures that these countries are in no doubt of the importance that the UK attaches to whale conservation. This is particularly important as we approach the next IWC meeting, to be held in Anchorage, Alaska in May.

Litter: Fixed Penalties

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were issued with a fixed penalty by local authorities as a result of  (a) dropping litter and  (b) permitting dog fouling in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 27 March 2007
	The number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued by local authorities in England in each of the last five years for litter and dog fouling offences is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  April to March each year  FPNs issued for litter offences  FPNs issued for dog fouling offences 
			 2005-06 33,033 4,066 
			 2004-05 25,216 3,557 
			 2003-04 7,565 2,742 
			 2002-03 12,820 2,036 
			 2001-02 11,615 2,311

Plastics: Recycling

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with European Union environment ministers on ways in which recycling for low density polyethylene (Type 4), Polypropylene (Type 5), Polystyrene (Type 6) and other (Type 7) plastics can be advanced.

Ben Bradshaw: I have regular discussions with European Union environment ministers on a range of issues, but none have been held specifically on this issue.
	However, the Government are taking action to both support the reduction of plastic packaging in the waste stream and encourage the recycling of plastics more generally. The Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP) is also working to create stable markets for a range of recycled materials, including plastics. In 2003, WRAP commissioned Enviros Consulting Ltd to undertake a study of the markets, applications and growth opportunities for recycled plastics in the UK.
	For example, expanded polystyrene can readily be used for insulation in housing and other types of plastics can be recycled into lower grade plastics and used in construction or packaging.
	WRAP's targets for 2004-06 are to work with the plastics industry to increase the acceptance of recycled plastic throughout the supply chain, to deliver an additional 20,000 tonnes of domestic plastic bottle recycling capacity, and to ensure that an additional 11,000 tonnes of non-bottle plastics are recycled.
	A common use of low density polyethylene is in the production of carrier bags. DEFRA is working closely with the devolved administrations, WRAP, the Scottish Waste Awareness Group and businesses to both promote reusable bags and reduce the number of plastic bags entering the waste stream.
	In addition, the packaging regulations set targets for recovery and recycling of packaging waste to be met by obligated businesses each year to enable the UK to meet the targets in the EU Packaging Directive. This requires the UK to recycle 22.5 per cent. of the plastic packaging waste entering the UK waste stream by 2008. Currently, around 20 per cent. of plastic packaging waste is recycled in the UK.

Plastics: Recycling

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities in England offer facilities for recycling  (a) low density polyethylene (Type 4),  (b) polypropylene (Type 5),  (c) polystyrene (Type 6) and  (d) other (Type 7) plastics.

Ben Bradshaw: Data from the 2006 Waste and Resources Action programme/Recoup UK plastic bottle recycling survey indicate that 86 per cent of local authorities (LAs) already offer some form of collection facilities for plastic bottles.
	LAs normally collect plastics by application and not by polymer type. They may, for example, request types of bottles and trays for recycling, instead of distinguishing between different types of plastic. Data are not, therefore, collected on the different types of plastic collected by individual LAs.

Regional Development Agencies

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding each regional development agency received from  (a) rural development programmes and  (b) other programmes run by his Department in each of the last five years; and how much each agency spent on policy areas which are his Department's responsibility in each year.

Barry Gardiner: DEFRA is one of five departments which fund regional development agencies (RDAs) through a single programme budget (the "single pot"). This funding gives RDAs the ability to address regional priorities, while at the same time contributing to the delivery of national public service agreement targets—including DEFRA's public service agreement targets on sustainable development, rural productivity and access to services, and sustainable farming and food. Funding is allocated using a funding formula.
	DEFRA funding to the RDAs since 2002-03 is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   DEFRA contribution to RDA single pot  BREW( 1) 
			 2002-03 41 — 
			 2003-04 41 — 
			 2004-05 46 — 
			 2005-06 72 5 
			 2006-07 73 12 
			 (1) Funding for RDA regional co-ordination of the business resource efficiency and waste programme 
		
	
	The significant increase in the DEFRA contribution to the single pot from 2005-06 is the result of the transfer of additional funding from the Countryside Agency for rural socio-economic activities (£21 million per annum), a commitment made in rural strategy 2004.
	How each RDA utilises its single pot allocation will vary according to regional need. Details of RDA priorities and planned spending can be found in individual RDA corporate plans, (approved by Government), with six-monthly reports on performance, setting out what has been achieved. These documents can be found on each RDA website.
	Responsibility for the delivery of the socio-economic measures of the Rural Development Programme for England (and legacy of the earlier England Rural Development Programme) was passed to the RDAs on 1 October 2006. This implemented another of the commitments from the rural strategy 2004. The level of funding for the new programme has yet to be finalised but RDAs will have access to a minimum of £40 million per annum over the period 2007-13.
	The move to devolve funding to the regions through RDAs is part of the Government's devolving decision-making agenda. RDAs, working in partnership, will decide how to spend their resources to meet national targets and address regional needs. However, DEFRA is confident that by devolving these responsibilities to the RDAs and having increased the resources it makes available to them, rural delivery will become more responsive to local priorities and better focused on areas and people who need it most.

Waste Disposal: Greater London

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to dispose of London's residual waste to landfill sites outside London.

Ben Bradshaw: The Mayor of London is making strong efforts to reduce London's reliance on landfill outside its boundaries. The Mayor's spatial development strategy envisages London becoming 85 per cent. self-sufficient with regard to waste management by 2020.
	The London boroughs, which are the waste planning authorities, are required to draw up plans which are in general conformity with the Mayor's spatial development strategy. The Government have proposed a strengthening of the Mayor's planning powers, which is intended to increase his ability to ensure that appropriate development takes place.

Waste Disposal: Greater London

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of London's waste was disposed of at Newton Longville landfill site in the last 12 months; and how much he estimates will be disposed of at the site in each of the next 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Environment Agency holds records of waste arising in London disposed of at the Newton Longville landfill site. Their data, which is based on operator returns, shows that 17,724.41 tonnes of London's waste were disposed of at the site in 2006.
	The Environment Agency does not hold, or have access to, data on future disposal rates and waste origins for this site. This is a commercial matter between the landfill operator, The Waste Recycling Group, and any London boroughs that have contracts with the operator.

White Fish: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  for what reasons he did not proceed with his plans to increase the minimum landing size of bass to 40cm from 6 April;
	(2)  what evidence he expects to consider before fulfilling his commitment to increase to minimum landing size for bass;
	(3)  what studies his Department has carried out on the effect on discards of increasing the minimum landing size of bass to 40 cm; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I listened carefully to the concerns expressed by the National Federation of Fisherman's Organisations (NFFO) at a meeting on 14 March. It presented a number of issues relating to the impact it said the measures would have on both the stocks of bass and the livelihoods of bass fishermen, and asked me to reconsider my decision.
	The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) has recently conducted a study on the levels of bass discards from trawlers and the relative impact of an increase in the minimum landing size for bass. I will assess the implications of this report, the points raised by the NFFO and any new evidence before considering whether, and on what date, legislation will come into force.

Wood: Trade

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding has been provided by his Department for the timber trade action plan (TTAP); when he expects the TTAP report on mills in China to be made available; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: DEFRA is not funding the timber trade action plan (TTAP) but has provided a grant of £151,692 from the World Summit On Sustainable Development Implementation Fund to The Tropical Forest Trust, which also manages TTAP. This funding supports a project which aims to help Chinese wood processing firms achieve market demands for legal and sustainable timber. A public report on the first phase of the project—an industry supply chain study—will be available at the end of March.

TREASURY

Average Earnings

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2007,  Official Report, column 406W, on average earnings, what information can be extracted from the Labour Force Survey relating to the pay gap for  (a) women with dependent children,  (b) ethnic minorities,  (c) workers with disabilities and  (d) workers with the fewest qualifications.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 28 March 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the pay gap, as represented by average hourly earnings, between men and certain other groups of employees. (129909)
	In your earlier question, Official Report Volume 458, column 406, to which you refer, you requested a time series of data from 1997. I pointed out that while the data was available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), it could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. I have therefore only provided data for 2006.
	The attached table gives a breakdown of the average hourly earnings of employees of working age, and the percentage pay gap between all male employees and employees who are either women with dependent children, people from ethnic minorities, workers with disabilities, and employees for each of the main qualification groups.
	Average hourly earnings shown are based on the statistical mean. The ONS also publishes information for both the mean and median hourly earnings in table 38 of the LFS Historical Quarterly Supplement, which can be found at:
	http://www. statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/LFSHQS/Table38.xls.
	The results shown are not comparable to those provided in the earlier reply as that information was provided from the Annual Survey of Hourly Earnings (ASHE). The estimates relate to the three months ending June 2006. These estimates have not been seasonally adjusted.
	Estimates are taken from the LFS. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Average gross hourly earnings of employees of working age( 1)  and percentage pay gap to all male employees of working age United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  £ and percentage 
			  Three months ending June 2006  Mean gross hourly earnings (£)  Pay gap( 2)  (percentage) 
			 All employees(3) 11.12 — 
			 Men 12.38 — 
			 Women 9.81 — 
			
			 Women with dependent children 10.06 18.7 
			
			 Ethnic minority groups 10.70 13.6 
			
			 Disabled(4) 10.27 17.0 
			
			  Highest qualification   
			 Degree or equivalent 16.73 -35.1 
			 Higher education below degree level 12.60 -1.8 
			 GCE A Level or equivalent 10.11 18.3 
			 GCSE grades A-C or equivalent 8.70 29.7 
			 Other qualifications 8.39 32.2 
			 No qualifications 7.24 41.5 
			 Don't know 8.46 1.7 
			 (1) 16 to 64 for men and 16-59 for women. (2) The percentage difference between the relevant hourly pay for all persons in each group, and that of male employees (£12.38). (3) Includes both full-time and part-time employees. (4) Includes those who have a long term disability.  Note: Gross hourly earnings data are known to be underestimated in the LFS. This is principally because of proxy responses.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Birth Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast he has made of the number of births in England in each strategic health authority area in  (a) 2010,  (b) 2020 and  (c) 2030.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 28 March 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question about the number of births forecast in each strategic health authority area of England for  (a) 2010,  (b) 2020 and  (c) 2030. I am replying in her absence. (129886)
	The most recent projection of the number of births at strategic health authority area was made as part of the 2004-based subnational population projections published by the Office for National Statistics in October 2006.
	The attached table gives the projected figures for each strategic health authority for the year to mid~2010) 2020 and 2029 (the final year of the 25 year projection horizon) as used in the 2004-based subnational population projections.
	
		
			  Projected births for strategic health authority areas in England 2004—based subnational population projections 
			   Thousand 
			   2009-10  2019-20  2028-29 
			 North East 27 27 26 
			 North West 78 80 77 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 59 62 61 
			 East Midlands 46 48 47 
			 West Midlands 63 65 63 
			 East 62 64 63 
			 London 116 122 122 
			 South East Coast 46 48 48 
			 South Central 45 47 46 
			 South West 51 54 53

Capital Gains Tax

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost of capital gains tax taper relief for 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the cost of capital gains tax taper relief for 2005-06 and 2006-07 were published in Table A3.1 of the 2007 'Financial Statement and Budget Report'. Estimates for later years are not available.

Central Government Funding: Health Service/Local Government

Quentin Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the net cost or saving to public funds if central government contributions to local government expenditure and the financing of the health service and of policing were allocated by applying throughout the United Kingdom the same needs-based formulae as are currently used to allocate public spending in England in those fields.

Stephen Timms: Under the devolved funding arrangements set out in the Statement of Funding Policy published in July 2004 it is for the devolved administrations to determine how much is spent on the health service and local government expenditure, and similarly for policing in Scotland, within their overall block budgets.
	We do not have the data to attempt to apply spending formulae for England to local authorities and health trusts in other countries in the UK.

Child Care

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the amount and proportion of disposable income spent on formal child care by people in each income quintile; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government do not hold information on the amount and proportion of disposable income spent on formal child care by income quintile. Child care costs vary depending on a number of different factors, including type of care, age of child, time of care, region, whether or not the child is disabled and whether the care is part or full-time.

Child Tax Credit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households receive the disability element of child tax credit, broken down by  (a) region,  (b) local authority and  (c) parliamentary constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the average number of in-work families benefiting from the disabled child element of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in each area requested, are shown in 'Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Awards 2004-05. Geographical Analyses'. This publication can be found on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	Information for 2005-06 finalised awards will be published in May 2007.
	Complete information on the number of out of work families in each area benefiting from the disabled child element of CTC, or the equivalent in benefit payments, is not available.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what media evaluation reports the Valuation Office Agency has produced on council tax in the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: The Valuation Office Agency has produced no media evaluation reports on council tax in the last 12 months.

Council Tax: Wales

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the implementation of the VOA's automated valuation model in Wales for council tax valuation purposes.

Dawn Primarolo: The automated valuation model was not used for valuation purposes in the 2005 council tax revaluation in Wales. The possibility of its future use to keep the banding lists up to date to reflect new or altered properties has been raised with Welsh Assembly Government officials.

Departments: Advertising

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on  (a) sponsoring newspaper or publication supplements and  (b) funding advertorials in newspapers or publications in the latest year for which figures are available; and what the topic was of each publication.

John Healey: I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry) on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 1738-39W. Further analysis of the spending could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Air Pollution

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what monetary value is assigned by his Department to the social cost of carbon in assessing Government projects; what value was recommended by the Stern review on climate change; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	In January 2002, "Estimating the Social Cost of Carbon Emission" a Government Economic Service (GES) working paper, was published jointly by DEFRA and the Treasury. It suggested £70 per tonne of Carbon (tC) (within a range of £35 to £140 per tC) as an illustrative estimate for the global damage cost of carbon emissions. This would rise by £1 per tC per year in real terms to reflect the increasing marginal cost of emissions over time. The GES paper also recommended periodic reviews of the illustrative figures as new evidence became available. The UK was almost unique in issuing official guidance on the social cost of carbon (SCC). The scientific and socio-economic uncertainties behind these calculations are very significant.
	The Stern Review estimates the SCC for a scenario of unmitigated climate change averaging over time and over different possible outcomes, is $85 per tCO2 in year 2000, rising over time. The equivalent value in 2007 might be around £264-269 per tC.
	However, the Stern Review also notes that, if the world converges on a trajectory towards stabilisation at a level that reduces the risks and damages of climate change, the SCC will be lower, perhaps $25-30 per tCO2 in year 2000. Again, this would rise over time. The equivalent value in 2007 might be around £90-95 per tC.
	Economists from relevant government departments are currently developing revised guidance on the calculation and use of shadow prices of carbon in informing UK policy decisions in the light of the Stern Review work on the social cost of carbon as well as previous work by DEFRA in this area. The aim is to publish revised guidance by the summer.

Departments: Conferences

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conferences funded by his Department in February 2007 had over 100 attendees.

John Healey: None.

Departments: Teaching Aids

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) commissioning,  (b) distribution and  (c) other costs have been of providing updates to the Red Box teaching pack in the last six months.

John Healey: The Red Box website has been updated and went live early March. The cost was £24,461.
	The printed Red Box has not been updated in the last six months.

Economic Growth

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which independent variables he uses to make his projections of GDP growth; and what form the growth model takes.

John Healey: The Treasury's approach to economic forecasting is described in the 2007 Budget Report (HC342, paragraphs B30 to B35); and the latest forecast for GDP growth is set out in Chapter B of that report. The Treasury's approach to projecting the economy's trend rate of growth is set out in 'Trend growth: recent developments and prospects', HM Treasury, April 2002; and for a full discussion of the most recent review of the Treasury's trend growth projections see 'Trend growth: new evidence and prospects', HM Treasury, December 2006.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the graduated rates of tax for vehicle excise duty introduced in 2001 on ownership of cars in the different tax bands.

John Healey: The Government inherited a one band system of VED in 1997, but now has environmentally graduated carbon dioxide bands. VED's environmental signal to motorists to purchase more fuel efficient cars and to vehicle manufacturers has been progressively refined and sharpened.
	This is one of the reasons why the proportion of least polluting cars on our roads has risen by 30 per cent. while that of the most polluting cars has fallen.
	The numbers of vehicles in the three lowest carbon dioxide emissions VED bands is forecast to grow significantly in the longer term in part due to VED reform.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has taken steps to encourage cars with large engines that might incur the highest rate of vehicle excise duty to be converted to liquified petroleum gas or other cleaner fuels;
	(2)  whether cars which are converted to cleaner fuels will be subject to lower vehicle excise duty.

John Healey: When CO2 emissions graduated vehicle excise duty was introduced in 2001 the CO2 banding structure included a discount for cars capable of using alternative fuels. This discount remains in place and is worth £20 for cars in bands B-E, and £15 for cars in bands F and G. Cars capable of running on liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas and E85 high blend bioethanol are eligible to receive this.
	A fuel duty differential has been in place for bioethanol since 2005 and Budget 2007 announced the extension of the 20 pence per litre biofuels duty incentive until 2009-10, offering further certainty to the industry and motorists. As acknowledged in the Chancellor's 2007 Budget report road fuel gases such as compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas can deliver carbon and air quality benefits over conventional road fuels. Duty support is given to these fuels in line with the principles in the Government's alternative fuels framework.
	Liquefied petroleum gas currently benefits from a fuel duty incentive over main road fuels which equates to 39.79 pence per litre.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the exemption of motorists with disabilities from vehicle excise duty; what account is taken of the age of such motorists in eligibility for such exemptions; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Exemption from vehicle excise duty for cars is offered to severely disabled people who are in receipt of war pensioners mobility supplement (WPMS) or the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
	The recipient can nominate someone else to drive the car, and the car may be registered either to the recipient or the nominee. However, for the car to remain exempt all journeys must be for the recipient's purposes—for example for taking the recipient to the doctor or for doing the recipient's shopping—otherwise the appropriate rate of Vehicle excise duty must be paid. Vehicle excise duty must be paid on any additional vehicles—the exemption can only be claimed once.
	The Government believe that using WPMS and the higher rate mobility component of DLA is the most effective way of delivering this exemption to the people most in need. DLA is only available to people claiming before the age of 65, but once granted can continue in payments beyond the age of 65 so long as the conditions of entitlement remain satisfied.

Gila Sacks

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1490W, on Gila Sacks, whether Gila Sacks is one of his special advisers.

John Healey: As set out in the PM's annual statement to the House on special advisers, Members of the Council of the Economic Advisers are employed on special adviser terms.

Gross Gaming Yield Band

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the impact on Exchequer revenues of the introduction of a 50 per cent. gross gaming yield band; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Revenue estimates of the 2007 changes to Gaming Duty were published in the 2007 Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC342).

HM Revenue and Customs

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 342-3W, on HM Revenue and Customs, if he will break down the £850,000 expenditure on implementation of proposals and projects arising from the Angels and Demons scheme by proposal or project.

Dawn Primarolo: Accrued costs of £844,000 (in the period up to the end of 31 January 2007) break down as follows between three projects:
	£50,000 spent by the HMRC Northern Ireland Overseas repayment unit on the introduction of scanning capacity for the processing of VAT reclaim forms and supporting documentation, helping to speed up processing and to prevent fraud.
	£558,000 spent on a national project to enable the quicker closure of PAYE schemes when employers cease trading, improving the accuracy and generating efficiencies in the management of PAYE records.
	£236,000 on a national project targeted at taxpayers for whom English is not a first language, enabling easier checking and payment of income tax liabilities, generating efficiencies in the reduction of taxpayer errors, and their subsequent correction.
	As explained in a previous answer I gave on 31 January 2007,  Official Report, column 342W, overall expenditure on the portfolio of projects in this scheme is intended to generate returns of 110 per cent. in terms of greater efficiency and reduced administration.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the progress of motor manufacturers towards meeting the targets for new car emission levels set out in the 1998 agreement between the European Automobile Manufacturers Association and the European Commission.

John Healey: I refer my hon. Friend to the response given by the Minister of State for Transport on 26 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1244W.

National Minimum Wage

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many alleged breaches of the national minimum wage legislation by media companies have been presented to HM Revenue and Customs since  (a) 1 May 2004 and  (b) 1 January 2007; how many investigations HM Revenue and Customs has carried out into such alleged breaches since each date; and how many prosecutions for breaches of the national minimum wage by media companies there have been since each date.

Dawn Primarolo: In line with the requirements of the DTI, for whom HMRC enforces the minimum wage, HMRC holds statistical information for 10 employer trade sectors. It does not hold specific information for the media sector and is therefore unable to provide the statistical data requested.

Non-domiciled UK Taxpayers

Michael Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigations he undertakes into the income and assets held overseas by non-domiciled UK taxpayers.

Dawn Primarolo: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) carries out investigations into the income and assets held overseas by UK resident non-domiciled taxpayers where this may be relevant to their UK tax liability. Such investigations may occur to verify information given to HMRC by individuals completing self-assessment tax returns or making other claims for non-domiciled status; as a result of third-party disclosure; or because of the outcome of other HMRC inquiries.
	No information is available on the number of investigations undertaken by HMRC.

Planning Gain Supplement

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 15 January 2007, on planning gain supplement, why each individual response to the consultation exercise has not been placed in the Library.

John Healey: The responses to the December 2005 publication "Planning-gain Supplement: a consultation" were placed in the Library of the House on 19 December 2006. The reference number for the set of documents is Dep. 06/2350.
	A summary of consultation responses is also available in the Library of the House; the reference number for this document is Dep. 07/461. This document is also available on the Treasury's website.

Regional Development Agencies

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the increase in the budget for regional development agencies referred to in Paragraph 7.65 of the Budget Red Book, HC 342, is targeted to be used to support the energy efficiency initiative for small and medium-sized businesses in the business resource efficiency advice service.

John Healey: The nine English regional development agencies (RDAs) are increasing the advice, support and incentives available for environmental improvement and innovation from £140 million in 2006-07 to £240 million in 2007-08. It is for the RDAs to decide the amount of expenditure from their single programme budget used to support the business resource efficiency advice service.

Sainsbury Review

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2232W, on the Sainsbury Review, whether Lord Sainsbury agreed to conduct the review before it was announced.

John Healey: There is nothing I can add to my earlier answer.

Senior Civil Servants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether each Treasury managing director has a private secretary.

John Healey: Every Treasury managing director has access to a private secretary or personal assistant.

Smuggling: Alcoholic Drinks

Lee Scott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of  (a) alcohol and  (b) tobacco products seized by HM Customs in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The amount of seized alcohol and tobacco products can be found in the HMRC Annual Report
	(http://www.hmrc.qov.uk/about/reports.htm),
	and is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Cigarettes seizures (including overseas) (billion) 2.6 1.9 1 .8 2.0 2.0 
			 Tobacco seizures (tonnes) 385 258 185 166 160 
			 Spirits seized (million litres) 2.15 0.92 0.41 0.30 0.24 
			 Beer seized (million litres) 2.61 2.95 2.77 2.18 2.52 
			 Wine seized (million litres) 0.61 0.65 1.13 0.63 0.29

Stamp Duty

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what exemptions there are to stamp duty on new houses in Wales; what the cut-off threshold is on stamp duty in Wales; what plans he has for changes in the stamp duty system in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) rates and thresholds, like all other national taxes, apply equally to the whole of the UK and have never been set on a regional basis.
	The starting residential threshold is currently £125,000 and a higher £150,000 threshold is available in 2,000 disadvantaged wards across the UK.
	As announced at Budget 2007, there will be an exemption from SDLT for new zero-carbon homes from 1 October 2007. All qualifying homes under £500,000 will be exempt from SDLT and qualifying homes over £500,000 will have their SDLT bill reduced by £15,000. No exemption from SDLT exists for other types of new homes.
	SDLT rates and thresholds, like all other taxes, are kept under constant review as part of the Budget process, and any changes made are announced also as part of this process.

Tax Credits

David Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Penrith and The Border constituency have appealed against a demand for return of overpayments of tax credits since April 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available.

Taxation

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many changes of the law have been necessitated by inadvertent errors introduced as a result of the tax rewrite project.

Dawn Primarolo: The Tax Law Rewrite Project has to date produced four Acts—The Capital Allowances Act 2001 (CAA), The Income Tax Earnings and Pension Act 2003 (ITEPA), The Income Tax Trading and Other Income Act 2005 (ITTOIA) and the Income Tax Act 2007 (ITA). These Acts cover more than 2000 pages of legislation.
	Nine errors in CAA and eighteen errors in ITEPA were corrected in the Finance Acts 2001 and 2004 respectively.
	Four errors in each of ITTOIA and ITA have been corrected using Order-making powers contained in those Acts.
	In a number of these cases the corrections have the effect of making the law explicit, rather than changing its substantive effect.

Taxation: Overseas Residence

Michael Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the results of HM Treasury's review of non-domiciliary tax status.

Dawn Primarolo: As was confirmed in the Budget on 21 March, the review of the residence and domicile rules as they affect the taxation of individuals is ongoing.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1219W, on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), if he will place in the Library a CD-ROM of the learning and training documents on the VOA's intranet.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible to provide a CD-Rom of all the learning and training documents on the VOA's Intranet. To attempt to configure it for standalone viewing would involve disproportionate cost.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what access the Valuation Office Agency has to the National Register of Social Housing.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 20 March 2006,  Official Report, column 73W.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1141W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether the agency has a data strategy document separate from the agency's annual report, forward plan and accounts.

John Healey: The Valuation Office Agency has many documents which support the data strategy outlined in the agency's annual report, forward plan and accounts.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2007,  Official Report, column 2134W, on the Valuation Office Agency, what the agency's expenditure was on  HIYA! magazine and the  Network Gazette magazine.

John Healey: The Valuation Office Agency spent £3,228 on the publication of  HIYA! and £3,232 on the publication  Network Gazette.

Valuation Office Agency: ICT

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's estimate is of the value of the tangible fixed asset of the Valuation Office Agency's automated valuation model.

John Healey: The Valuation Office Agency's (VOA's) automated valuation model (AVM) has an estimated value of £6 million.

VAT: Bingo

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to abolish VAT on bingo receipts.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's policy of applying VAT and duty on bingo participation fees is consistent with our treatment of other player-to-player gaming in a bricks and mortar environment, such as player-to-player card games in casinos.

Welfare Tax Credits

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether CCM15540 (Undisclosed Partners) in the Tax Credits Compliance Manual is being revised; what guidance is available on assessments covered by these circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Claimant Compliance Manual (CCM) is kept under regular review and updated when required. Chapter 15 of the CCM provides guidance on how to work cases where HMRC find that a claimant has not disclosed that they have a partner.

Welfare Tax Credits: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people living in  (a) Ribble Valley and  (b) Lancashire received overpayments of (i) child tax credit and (ii) working tax credit in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: Child and working tax credits were introduced in April 2003.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 16 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1421W.
	Estimates for 2005-06 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by constituency based on final family circumstances and incomes are due to be published in May, as set out in the annual scheduled updates section of the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/updates/index.htm

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of appeals against overpayment of tax credits have not been successful since April 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Gravesham (Mr. Holloway) in the House on 1 March 2007,  Official  Report: column 1045.

Young People: Employment

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people aged under 25 years are in full-time employment;
	(2)  how many people are employed to work fewer than 30 hours per week;
	(3)  how many people aged 16 to 18 years are in  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time employment.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 28 March 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking (1) how many people aged under 25 years are in full-time employment, (2) how many people aged 16 to 18 years are in (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment and (3) how many people are employed to work less than 30 hours per week and. Responses to these questions have been combined in this reply. (130192, 130193, 130194)
	Table 1, attached, gives estimates of the numbers of men and women, in full-time and part-time employment for the age bands, 16 to 17 and 16 to 24. Table 2 shows those who work less than 31 hours and 31 or more hours per week, for the three months ending December 2006. These estimates are not seasonally adjusted.
	Each month the Office for National Statistics publishes estimates of the number of people working full-time and part-time in the UK, in table 3 of the Labour Market Statistics First Release available in the attached link:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/LMS_FR_HSAVebTable03.xls.
	Similarly, estimates of usual weekly hours are available from Table 8 of the same release:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/lmsuk0307.pdf.
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Table 1. People aged under 25 years in full-time and part-time employment by gender United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand 
			   Age 
			  Three months ending December 2006 16-24 16-17 18-24 
			  All persons
			 Total in employment(1) 4,036 594 3,442 
			 Full-time(2) 2,584 140 2,445 
			 Part-time(2) 1,448 454 994 
			  Male
			 Total in employment(1) 2,061 277 1,784 
			 Full-time(2) 1,486 90 1,396 
			 Part-time(2) 573 186 387 
			  Female
			 Total in employment(1) 1,976 318 1,658 
			 Full-time(2) 1,098 50 1,049 
			 Part-time(2) 875 268 607 
			 (1 )Includes those who did not state whether they worked full or part-time. (2 )Full and part time is based on respondents' self assessment, not on hours worked.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS) 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. People in employment by hours worked and gender United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand 
			  Three months ending December 2006  All persons  Male  Female 
			 Total in employment(1) 28,519 15,274 13,246 
			 Less then 30 hours(2) 7,422 1,751 5,671 
			 31+ hours(2) 20,349 13,061 7,288 
			 (1 )Includes those who did not state the hours they usually work. (2 )Based on total hours usually worked and includes paid/unpaid overtime.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS)

HEALTH

Dental Services: Pay

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average annual income of a dentist is from the work done for the national health service.

Rosie Winterton: The gross remuneration paid to providers of national health service dental services covers both the practice expenses incurred in providing services and the dentists' net income. For the financial year 2005-06, the average NHS income for general dental services dentists in England and Wales with a reasonable commitment to the NHS was estimated at £76,500 in net terms, plus £88,500 to cover practice expenses. Dentists' gross contract values were increased by 3 per cent. from April 2006 as recommended by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.
	Average net earnings in the current year, 2006-07, will also be affected by any change in the relative level of practice expenses. The Department has made available £100 million over the two-year period 2006-07 and 2007-08 to support capital investment in dental practices.

Hospitals: Rehabilitation

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1939W, on residential rehabilitation, which  (a) nine services provide residential rehabilitation beds for single parents with children and  (b) five services provide beds for couples with children; and how many beds of each type are provided by each service.

Caroline Flint: This answer corrects information provided in the answer of 19 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1939W.
	There are five services in England which provide residential rehabilitation beds for single parents with children, three of which also provide services for couples with children as residents. Information about the services is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Residential rehabilitation service  Take single parents  Take couples  Take children as residents  Total beds 
			 Gilead Foundations Charity Yes Yes Yes 10 
			 Addaction Maya Project Yes No Yes 12 
			 Phoenix House, Brighton, Family Service Yes Yes Yes 17 
			 Phoenix House, Sheffield, Family Centre Yes Yes Yes 24 
			 Trevi House Yes No Yes 12

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with the chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights on the  (a) mandate and (b) involvement of the Commission's Race Equality Group.

Meg Munn: The Race Equality Group referred to in the question was set up by Ministers to advise them on the establishment of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights—it is not a group of the Commission itself. The group met three times and discussed a variety of issues including the policy agenda of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights and issues of internal governance.
	The Secretary of State has now appointed the chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights alongside a Board of Commissioners, and the Commission will determine how it wishes to engage with stakeholders. Officials and I have briefed the chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights about the group's work to enable the Commission to determine how it wishes to proceed.

Council Tax: Valuation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what obligations householders have to co-operate with requests from the Valuation Office Agency to fill in questionnaires to assist with council tax valuations;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the questionnaire and covering letter which the Valuation Office Agency has sent to householders in the last 12 months in relation to requesting information to assist with council tax valuations;
	(3)  whether the Valuation Office Agency obtains property data from any estate agent industry business or organisation other than Rightmove;
	(4)  how the Valuation Office Agency identifies whether a domestic dwelling has a conservatory;
	(5)  which estate agent companies provide information to the Valuation Office Agency via the Rightmove interface;
	(6)  which external organisations have provided  (a) information on individual domestic properties and  (b) geo-spatial data to the Valuation Office Agency since 2000.

Phil Woolas: I am today placing in the Library an information note about the Valuation Office Agency's valuation practices. The Government take the view that this, together with the detailed information on valuation which the VGA has already made available on its website and the additional information which has previously been placed in the Library or otherwise provided in response to a number of questions, constitutes a clear and satisfactory statement of how properties are valued for council tax purposes in England.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Absent Voting

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will take steps to ensure that the qualifications required to vote by post in England, Scotland and Wales are the same as those required in Northern Ireland.

Bridget Prentice: The availability of postal voting on demand in England, Scotland and Wales has proved very popular, with many electors finding it a convenient way to vote.
	Through the Electoral Administration Act 2006, as approved by Parliament, we have put in place a range of measures to strengthen the security of postal voting in England, Scotland and Wales, and to ensure postal votes are securely cast and counted.
	The Government do not consider there is sufficient justification to make further changes that would restrict the availability of postal voting in England, Scotland and Wales, as is the case in Northern Ireland.

Absent Voting

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how her Department intends to ensure appropriate checks in the monitoring of the trials into  (a) internet and  (b) telephone voting to prevent electoral malpractice and fraud.

Bridget Prentice: The e-voting election systems used in the pilots are subject to rigorous quality assurance assessment by independent experts on behalf of my Department and also to extensive testing by suppliers and local authorities prior to use. All e-voting systems will also include audit processes and records to allow returning officers to have confidence that the numbers of votes cast electronically tallies with those cast.
	Additionally the requirement for electors to provide a personally generated passcode or username reduces the potential for credentials to be stolen and misused.
	The independent Electoral Commission is required to evaluate all electoral pilot schemes and publish their findings following the elections.

Absent Voting

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps her Department is taking to prevent coercion and intimidation being used in the trials of  (a) internet and  (b) telephone voting.

Bridget Prentice: If an elector does not feel comfortable with using an e-vote or any form of remote voting they can still vote in person in a polling station.
	Electors will be using identifiers that are specific to them in order to access the system and, as with a traditional ballot, there will be no receipt that can be shown by the elector to anyone else afterwards to show how an elector has voted.
	My Department is also working with local authorities to ensure that there are good links with local police so that any instances of alleged coercion and intimidation can be investigated as in any normal election. Under new powers contained in the Electoral Administration Act 2006 any attempt to unduly influence an elector could result in a custodial sentence or unlimited fine.

Absent Voting: Proof of Identity

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps her Department will take to verify the identification of people voting  (a) by mobile telephone and  (b) via the internet in the forthcoming trials.

Bridget Prentice: Electors wishing to vote remotely using via the internet or by phone as part of an election pilot scheme will be required to pre-register to use these voting channels, as they are for postal voting.
	A combination of two codes, one provided by the elector and one by the local elections office, will be used to identify electors when they log on to vote.

Citizenship

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the UK is taking under the Fundamental Rights of Citizenship programme (EU budget code 18 04 06); and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: We expect the decision establishing the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship programme 2007-13 formally to be adopted at the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 19-20 April 2007. Once the decision comes into force, the European Commission will propose an Annual Work programme determining the thematic areas to pursue.

Coroners: Armed Forces

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what her most recent estimate is of the backlog of HM Coroner's Service inquiries into deaths of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I shall shortly be making a further written ministerial statement which includes the information requested.

Council Tax: Personal Records

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance she has issued on the use of personal information held for collecting and administering council tax in each of the last three years.

Vera Baird: The Information Commissioner's revised guidance on the use of personal information held for collecting and administering council tax differs from previous guidance by focussing on the questions to be considered when deciding how council tax information can be used.

Departments: Offices

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the  (a) purpose and  (b) functions of her Department's regional offices will be.

Bridget Prentice: The Department does not have regional offices.

Electoral Commission

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps her Department  (a) has taken and  (b) intends to take to enforce the imposition of financial penalties for parties which fail to comply with the regulatory requirements of the Electoral Commission; and whether her Department intends to introduce additional financial penalties.

Bridget Prentice: The imposition of financial penalties on political parties that fail to comply with regulatory requirements is entirely a matter for the Electoral Commission.
	The Government are currently considering the recent review of the Electoral Commission by the Committee on Standards in Public Life and also the recommendations of the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee and of Sir Hayden Phillips that relate to the regulatory role of the Electoral Commission.

Electoral Commission

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the future role of the Electoral Commission in determining electoral boundary matters will be.

Bridget Prentice: The Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000 currently provides for the transfer of the functions of all the parliamentary boundary commissions, and the local government boundary commissions for England, Wales and Scotland to boundary committees of the Electoral Commission.
	However, in its eleventh report, published on 18 January, the Committee on Standards in Public Life recommended that
	"the Electoral Commission should no longer have any involvement in electoral boundary matters".
	The Government are currently considering its response to that recommendation alongside the others made by the Committee in its eleventh report.

Electoral Register

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps her Department  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to encourage local authorities to enforce the requirement for people to complete and return an annual registration canvass form.

Bridget Prentice: Electoral registration officers (EROs) are aware of their powers to enforce the requirement that electors complete and return annual registration canvass forms and use them at their discretion if they consider this would be effective.
	The Electoral Administration Act 2006 (EAA 2006) sets out the necessary steps that local authorities must follow to ensure that eligible individuals are registered to vote. These include:
	Sending the canvass form more than once to any address.
	Conducting house to house inquiries and making contact by such other means as appropriate.
	The Act also contains other measures to improve registration rates, such as:
	Enabling registration up to 11 days prior to polling day.
	Introducing performance standards for EROs.
	These are all significant changes and their impact will be kept under review.

Electoral Register

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average fine was for failing to complete and return an annual registration canvass form in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: This information is not collected.

Electoral Register: Proof of Identity

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make it a requirement for individuals registered to vote at polling stations to have to sign the electoral register so that their signatures can be compared against the signature of the person casting the vote.

Bridget Prentice: While the Government are committed to ensuring the security of UK elections, we have no plans to require all electors to supply a signature when registering to vote.

Land Registry: Digital Technology

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Land Registry is participating in the European Land Information Service (EULIS) project.

Vera Baird: Yes, the Land Registry is participating in the EULIS project. The service has been developed and financed by a consortium of European land registration authorities, including HM Land Registry.

Legal Services Commission

Chris Mullin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what percentage of Legal Services Commission costs are accounted for by administration.

Vera Baird: The latest figures available (2005-06) show that the Legal Services Commission's administration costs equate to 4.8 per cent. of expenditure on legal aid.

Maintenance: Children

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2007,  Official Report, column 867W, on maintenance: children, what information is collected by the courts IT system in relation to child maintenance cases.

Harriet Harman: In the County courts and the Principal Registry of the Family Division "FamilyMan" is the case management system. It is used to record the key events in each case, such as the date of listing of an application, and the date of making and nature of an order (i.e. interim order/final order/order by consent). The information collected by the courts' IT system in relation to child maintenance cases is limited to this. There is no unified IT system in the Family Proceedings Courts. Where a Family Proceedings Court and the County court administrations have been co-located, the Family Proceedings Court can use "FamilyMan".

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliamentary Lobby Correspondents

Martyn Jones: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  how many passes were awarded to lobby correspondents in each year since 2002;
	(2)  to which individuals  (a) press and  (b) passes have been awarded; and which publication employs each;
	(3)  if he will list the categories of passes which have been awarded to lobby correspondents;
	(4)  what role  (a) the Serjeant at Arms Department and  (b) the Metropolitan police play in the awarding of passes to lobby correspondents;
	(5)  how many passes awarded to lobby correspondents have been revoked in the last five years; and for what reasons;
	(6)  under what circumstances an individual's press pass may be revoked;
	(7)  whether it is the policy of the House authorities to remove press pass privileges from anyone involved in the publication of information relating to the internal security of the House;
	(8)  what processes apply to  (a) applying for and  (b) issuing (i) standard press passes and (ii) lobby correspondent passes.

Nick Harvey: The number of passes in issue to lobby correspondents, including temporary passes, in each calendar year since 2002 is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002 261 
			 2003 246 
			 2004 256 
			 2005 244 
			 2006 242 
			 2007 250 
		
	
	Details about which individuals have press passes and the publications they work for can be found at the parliamentary press gallery website at the following address:
	http://www.thepressgallery.co.uk/.
	Details about which individuals are lobby correspondents and the publications they work for can be found at the parliamentary press gallery website at the following address:
	http://www.thepressgallery.co.uk/.
	The Serjeant at Arms is responsible for awarding passes to lobby correspondents. This is carried out on his behalf by the Deputy Serjeant at Arms. The Metropolitan police have no role in awarding passes.
	No passes awarded to lobby correspondents have been revoked in the last five years.
	A press pass may be revoked if the individual constitutes a security risk to the House or if they fail to comply with the rules of the House.
	If an individual was involved in the publication of information relating to the internal security of the House, consideration would be given to whether the individual constituted a security risk to the House or if they had breached the rules of the House.
	There are no differences in the process for applying for and issuing standard press and lobby correspondent passes.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of India on  (a) policy towards Burma,  (b) human rights in Burma,  (c) the humanitarian needs of displaced peoples living on the India-Burma border and  (d) the export of gas from Burma.

Ian McCartney: My right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the Indian Government about Burma.
	We have regular discussions with the Indian Government about their policy towards Burma. The Indian Government is fully aware of the UK's policy towards Burma, including our concerns about human rights and the lack of democracy there.
	Most recently, I raised Burma with the Indian Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi on 27 November 2006.
	I shall continue to raise the issue of Burma with the Indian Government.

Cambodia: Human Rights

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations her Department has made to the Government of Cambodia on the human rights situation in that country; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: With our EU partners, we regularly raise our concerns on human rights with the Government of Cambodia. We underline the importance of adhering to international obligations and the need to respect human rights and the rule of law.

Cambodia: Industrial Relations

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the observance of the rights of organised labour in Cambodia by the Government of that country.

Ian McCartney: We are concerned at the reports of the recent murder of Hy Vuthy, trade union activist. This is the third trade union official to be killed in three years. The local EU representatives have requested the Government of Cambodia ensure that a full enquiry into the circumstances of the death is conducted without delay and that appropriate action is taken to bring to justice those responsible. We, with our EU partners, will continue to follow developments closely.

Cambodia: Politics and Government

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the political situation in Cambodia.

Ian McCartney: Cambodia is a developing democracy, seeking to overcome decades of war and misrule. It has achieved peace and stability and democratic institutions have taken root. There have been three increasingly open national elections since 1993. Despite significant progress since the Paris Accords in 1991, the country faces continuing problems around governance, corruption and human rights. Cambodia is a member of the Association of South East Asian Nations.
	Cambodia is making good progress in reducing poverty, but remains one of the poorest countries in Asia. The economy has enjoyed double-digit growth over recent years.
	The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has been established to address the crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge regime of 1975 to 1979. It represents a milestone for Cambodia and an opportunity to break with the past will be in the success of the ECCC, bringing to justice those responsible for serious crimes during the Khmer Rouge period.

Central African Republic

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Government of France on the situation in the Central African Republic.

Ian McCartney: The UK has not recently engaged in substantial talks with the Government of France on the current situation in the Central African Republic. However, our embassy in Paris and our high commission in Yaounde are in regular contact with French colleagues and continue to monitor the security and humanitarian situation.

China: Family Planning

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the Chinese National Population and Family Planning Commission on its enforcement of the one child policy; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We do not take a position on China's right or need to implement family planning policies. However, we did raise our concerns with the Chinese Government following reported abuse of the system, including forced abortion and sterilisation, highlighted by human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng. We raised the ease of Chen Guangcheng at the most recent round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 5 February and the Chinese government provided information on his case. We continue to monitor Mr. Chen's situation and that of his family.

Departments: Advertising

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much her Department spent on  (a) sponsoring newspaper and publication supplements and  (b) funding advertorials in newspapers and publications in the last year for which figures are available; and what the topic was of each.

Geoff Hoon: In the last year the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has made the following expenditure:
	£20,000 was paid for a special supplement on UK-Israel relations in English and Hebrew. This was published with the  Haaretz newspaper (in Tel Aviv) on 27 June 2006. This project was funded by the Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund, financial year 2006-07 from programme expenditure.
	£103,330 was used to sponsor newspaper or publication supplements and fund advertorials in newspapers or publications in the last year as part of the Know Before You Go Campaign, which is an ongoing travel safety campaign run by the FCO. It encourages all British nationals to be better prepared for their overseas trips with a view to avoiding common travelling traumas, risks and dangers. It is not possible to give a further analysis of this expenditure without incurring disproportionate cost.
	It is possible that additional expenditure has been made at Posts. This information is not held centrally at the level of detail which would enable us to answer this question. It could only be researched by contacting each Post, and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

European Union

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how her Department plans to raise the awareness of the public on the Declaration of Berlin.

Geoff Hoon: The Government are committed to raising public awareness and debate on all EU issues, including the Berlin Declaration. In this 50th anniversary year, we will continue to support a wide range of activities to raise awareness and engage the public in debate on key challenges and the EU's role in helping to address them. For example, I recently launched the "Learning Together" initiative, to encourage more schools in the UK to take part in educational partnerships with schools across Europe. This initiative is making information available to schools across the UK about the exciting opportunities available. Teachers and heads with experience of joint learning projects with other countries will become "Learning Together Ambassadors", and share their experience with other schools interested in joining. We have also put a wide range of information, speeches and other relevant links on activities to mark the 50th anniversary onto the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's europe.gov.uk website. This includes a link to the text of the Berlin Declaration.

Gibraltar: Spain

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the incentive payments offered to Spanish pensioners related to contributions to the Gibraltar Social Security Fund up to 1969, as set out in individual letters sent to those eligible to be paid directly from the UK, have been calculated.

Geoff Hoon: The payments offered to affected Spanish pensioners relate in part to individuals' contribution records to the Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund.
	Incentive payments form part of the wider Cordoba pensions settlement, which removes a substantial liability from the UK taxpayer, as the Spanish Government has agreed not to claim healthcare costs for the affected Spanish pensioners for whom it would be entitled to do.
	As under existing arrangements for pension payments, incentive payments are being managed by the Department for International Development, and administered by Crown Agents Bank.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had on use of the death penalty in Iran in the last two years, and with whom.

Ian McCartney: We remain deeply concerned about the continued use of the death penalty in Iran. After China, Iran executes more people than any other country in the world. Despite announcing a moratorium on juvenile executions in 2005, Iran still imposes the death penalty for crimes committed before the age of 18. Reports suggest that between five and eight juvenile executions took place in 2005, and at least two in 2006. This is a clear contravention of Iran's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We are also concerned that basic standards surrounding the application of capital punishment are absent in Iran and that death sentences are often carried out in public.
	We make frequent representations to the Iranian authorities about the use of the death penalty, both bilaterally and through the EU. On 11 December 2006 our ambassador in Tehran raised our concerns about death sentences handed down to 10 men, with the head of Iran's International Department of the Judiciary. On 21 January and 4 March, the EU presidency in Tehran raised our concerns about specific juvenile death penalty cases and reiterated the EU's longstanding objection to the death penalty in all circumstances. In the last two years, through the EU, we have raised the death penalty with the Iranian authorities at least 15 times.
	We also take action through the UN, and were pleased that all EU countries supported a resolution on human rights in Iran at the UN General Assembly in December 2006, which expressed serious concern at "the continuing of public executions, including multiple public executions, and, on a large scale, other executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards" and "in particular, deplores the execution of persons who were under the age of 18 at the time their offence was committed".

Malaysia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the  (a) human rights and  (b) humanitarian situation of refugees living in Malaysia.

Ian McCartney: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that there are 40,000-60,000 "persons of concern" in Malaysia. There are concerns about the treatment of refugees, and those claiming refugee status, and there are problems over recognition of refugee papers issued by the UNHCR. Access to people claiming refugee status, or facing deportation, can be difficult.
	The UNHCR believes that many refugees or those seeking refugee status are able to find work in the 'black economy' to support themselves, or find support from their ethnic communities in Malaysia.
	The UNHCR reports that recent moves to clamp down on suspected illegal immigrants have resulted in human rights violations. Around 20,000 arrests were made in 2006. Those arrested are usually placed in detention camps prior to deportation. The camps are overcrowded, unhygienic, and fail to provide properly for women and children.
	Our high commission in Kuala Lumpur keeps in regular contact with the UNHCR in Malaysia. The high commission has consistently supported the work of the UNHCR, including in addressing the issue of recognition of UNHCR-certified persons of concern. We are working with the UNHCR on the way forward.

Malaysia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by her Department to address the issue of the deportation of UNHCR-registered refugees from Malaysia.

Ian McCartney: Our high commission in Kuala Lumpur keeps in regular contact with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia. The high commission has consistently supported the work of the UNHCR, including in addressing the issue of deportations from Malaysia. We are working with the UNHCR on the way forward and will continue to do so.

Malaysia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Malaysian government on recognition of UNHCR-certified persons of concern.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed this issue with the Malaysian government. However, our high commission in Kuala Lumpur keeps in regular contact with the UN high commissioner for refugees in Malaysia.

Malaysia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Malaysian government on recognition of the authority of the UNHCR.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any representations to the Malaysian government on this issue.

Pakistan: Religious Persons

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of imams granted entry clearance to work as ministers of religion who could not speak English in each year since 1995.

Ian McCartney: Since 2004 ministers of religion applying for entry clearance to the UK to preach are required to have an international English language training system score of four or above in order for their applications to be successful.
	There are no figures available from our High Commission in Islamabad to show how many imams who could not speak English may have been issued with visas before this became a requirement of the Immigration Rules.

Research: EC Action

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the Lisbon Agenda target of increased investment in research and development activities to 3 per cent. of GDP in EU member states by 2010.

Geoff Hoon: Every EU member state is working towards a national research and development target. The UK has a target of spending 2.5 per cent. of gross domestic product on research and development by 2014. The target aims for one third funding from the public sector and two thirds from the private sector, which puts a particular emphasis on raising business research investment.
	The EU has taken a number of steps to support member states in making progress towards their targets and to create strong framework conditions for business investment. In particular the recently established Framework programme seven will increase direct EU funding for research and development by 75 per cent.
	EU Heads of State and Government reiterated the importance of making progress in this area at this month's European Council.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the G-19 rebel group in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: The Group of 19 (G-19) was a grouping of rebel commanders who broke away from the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) following the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006. The group has subsequently divided and in practice no longer exists. Many of its commanders have now re-aligned themselves as the SLM/Non-Signatory Front (NSF), while others remain closer to the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
	Our ambassador in Khartoum and the UK permanent representative-designate to the United Nations in New York, John Sawers, met NSF and JEM representatives in El Fasher on 7 March. They pressed them on the need for a comprehensive ceasefire, to protect access for humanitarian workers and to be part of a renewed political process led by the African Union (AU) and UN.
	The UK supports the efforts of the AU and UN special envoys for the peace process, Salim Ahmed Salim and Jan Eliasson, to re-start urgently political negotiations between the Government of Sudan and rebels on Darfur. We have also been supporting efforts by the SLM to organise a commanders' conference in North Darfur, which aims at unifying the rebel movements with the aim of participating in new negotiations with a clearer voice.

Sudan: Human Rights

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will seek discussions with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference following its rejection of the recent UN report on the human rights situation in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Mission to Sudan issued a damning report on 12 March, confirming what we already knew about the grave human rights situation in Darfur. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and some Asian states, said that the council should not discuss the report on procedural grounds because the mission had not gone to Sudan.
	I, and the UK permanent representative to the HRC, called on the council to take effective action on Darfur and not become mired in procedural debates. We do not accept that the mission report is not valid as the mission failed to go to Sudan. The Government of Sudan reneged on their commitment to co-operate with the mission and refused to grant visas to all members of the mission, so, rightly, none of the members went. The report is based on the assessments of UN humanitarian agencies, the African Union in Addis Ababa and UN High Commissioner for Refugees in eastern Chad. All of these organisations, which have large numbers of staff operating in Darfur and eastern Chad, continue to report an appalling human rights and humanitarian situation there. We will continue to press all members of the HRC, including those from the OIC, to take forward the recommendations in the report.
	I also raised this with the Sudanese Justice Minister. I made clear that it was unacceptable that Sudan had not co-operated with the human rights mission to Sudan, which the council had authorised last December.

Sudan: War Crimes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action she plans to take in response to Sudan's announcement that it will not recognise the International Criminal Court indictment of individuals allegedly by responsible for the atrocities upon civilians in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: The Government welcome the fact that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor's investigation has got to the point at which he is able to ask for the issuing of summonses against two individuals. It is now for the ICC judges to decide whether to approve this request.
	The UK has made clear to the Government of Sudan that, as required by UN Security Council Resolution 1593, they must co-operate fully with the ICC in any action the Court decides to take. We are concerned by suggestions that the Government of Sudan will not co-operate and will be monitoring their actions extremely carefully. I raised the ICC investigation with Sudanese Justice Minister El-Mardi when we met in Geneva on 13 March.

Taha Yassin Ramadan

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response she has made to the decision of the Iraqi Appeals Chamber hearing in the case of Taha Yassin Ramadan; what representations she has received, and from whom, on this case; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did not receive any direct representations in this case. The EU presidency, on behalf of all member states and the European Commission, reiterated its opposition to the death penalty to the Government of Iraq and requested that Taha Yassin Ramadan's sentence be commuted. We repeated our concerns to the Government of Iraq on 19 March.

Tibet

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her policy is on  (a) China's and  (b) the Dalai Lama's proposals for the status of Tibet.

Ian McCartney: We continue to urge the Chinese Government to engage with the representatives of the Dalai Lama, without preconditions, to find a legitimate, long-term solution which is acceptable to the Tibetans. Successive Governments have regarded Tibet as autonomous while recognising the special position of the Chinese authorities there. This continues to be the Government's view.

USA: Foreign Companies

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department has made to the US Embassy on the proposed implementation of extra-territorial legislation in the territory of the UK by the Hilton Group and other US companies.

Ian McCartney: I welcome the news in Hilton Hotel Group's recent press release that it will not discriminate against customers and potential customers on the grounds of their nationality. The UK Government opposes all assertions of extraterritorial jurisdiction of other states on UK companies.
	The European Commission has competence within the European Community for dealing with extraterritorial measures taken by third countries against EU member states. The Commission is considering how best to take these issues forward.

World Trade: USA

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Chairman of the EU Council of Ministers on progress towards a barrier-free transatlantic market.

Geoff Hoon: As I set out in my written answer to the hon. Member on 27 February 2007,  Official Report, columns 1196-97W, the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) remains our top trade priority, but we welcome German proposals to tackle non-tariff barriers between the EU and US, which are not part of the DDA negotiations.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister attended the 8-9 March European Council in Brussels. Discussions covered a wide range of issues, including the EU-US relationship. Council Working Groups in Brussels have been discussing deepening EU-US Economic Co-operation and preparations for the EU-US summit more broadly.
	We remain a strong supporter of promoting EU-US economic co-operation and integration in this sense and are keen to see further progress under the German presidency. Deepening economic co-operation between the EU and the US will not only bring the benefits of helping to remove remaining barriers to trade and investment but also serve as a positive step towards a more flexible and efficient global economy.
	We will continue discussions with the Commission, our EU partners and the US in the run up to the EU-US summit on 30 April.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

BAE Systems: Saudi Arabia

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1165W, on BAE Systems: Saudi Arabia, whether remuneration was paid other than fees or commissions.

Ian McCartney: Remuneration, whether commission, fee or other, was not, to the knowledge of ECGD, paid to agents having any part in obtaining or negotiating the sale of Eurofighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia. ECGD was told by BAES in its application that there were no agents who played such a part. In that case no remuneration could be payable.

BAE Systems: Saudi Arabia

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2006,  Official Report, column 1165W, on BAE Systems: Saudi Arabia, whether BAE Systems' application for cover for the sale of Eurofighter aircraft for Saudi Arabia received by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 28 June 2006 was made in accordance with the old anti-corruption procedures or those which came into effect on 1 July 2006; and which form the company completed.

Ian McCartney: The application for cover was made prior to 1 July 2006 on the then-current proposal form. The Indemnity was issued after 1 July 2006 and contained the anti-bribery and corruption provisions which were introduced on 1 July 2006, with cross-references, where appropriate, to declarations in the application for cover.

Contracts

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what analysis he has undertaken of the potential impact of outsourcing of business functions abroad on  (a) employment trends in the UK and  (b) economic growth in the period to 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 20 February 2007
	Current evidence suggests that while there has been some outsourcing of business functions abroad, this has had little significant impact on UK employment or growth. From 2001 to 2005 UK employment grew fastest in exactly the services, IT and call centres, that were regarded as most likely to be outsourced overseas, although a survey of the UK IT industry last year suggested there may be a small fall in its employment in the UK over the next few years. Therefore, while outsourcing of business functions abroad is generally expected to increase in the future, it is not clear that this will have a significant impact on UK employment or growth.
	I do not propose to make any further statement.

Departments: Public Appointments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the former hon. Members who left Parliament in 2005 who have since been appointed to public bodies by his Department, broken down by party; and who was responsible for making each appointment.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information about the political activity of appointees is recorded and publicised in accordance with the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments' code of practice. This shows that no former hon. Members who left Parliament in 2005 have since been appointed to public bodies sponsored by the Department.

Departments: Trade Unions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings his Department's officials held with  (a) business representatives,  (b) trade union representatives and  (c) consumer representatives in 2006.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department's officials held numerous meetings with business, trade union and consumer representatives in 2006 but the number is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Domestic Accidents

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress his Department is making in reducing the number of serious accidents in the home.

Ian McCartney: DTI is responsible for the safety of consumer products and we provide the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) with an annual grant of 166,050 to meet the costs of regional safety liaison officers whose role is to provide supportinformation, advice and trainingtowards improving the effectiveness of home safety practitioners in the voluntary sector and local government. The grant also helps fund the RoSPA press office, information service and website. DTI also gives RoSPA 60,725 per annum to provide the query service for the HASS/LASS (Home/Leisure Accident Surveillance System) database. DTI Ministers and officials meet RoSPA on a regular basis. DTI does not have a significant role in the prevention of accidents due to causes other than unsafe products.

Drugs: Licensing

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers are available to trading standards officers to prevent the marketing to UK mainland consumers of unlicensed medicinal produced by companies based in the Channel Islands; what steps he plans to take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Medicines licensing is primarily the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a Department of Health Agency.
	Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
	Market Towers
	1 Nine Elms Lane
	London
	SW8 5NQ
	tel: 020 7084 2000
	fax: 020 7084 2353

Export Credit Guarantees: Sakhalin Island

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the uncompleted British elements are of the Sakhalin II project which are still seeking support from the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Ian McCartney: The uncompleted elements include supply of goods and related services in relation to the following:
	Offshore Facilities and Pipes
	Analyser Metering Package
	Equipment and Bulk Materials and Services
	Engineering and Detailed Design Engineering
	A Component of the Mains Power Generation Package
	Integrated Mud Mixing and Solids Control
	Cuttings Re-Injection Package
	Switchgear and Transformers
	Switchgear Package
	Maintenance and Integrity Strategy

Hilton Group: Jurisdiction

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what conclusions his Department has reached on its investigation into the proposed implementation of extra-territorial legislation in the territory of the UK by the Hilton Hotel Group and other US companies.

Ian McCartney: I welcome the news in Hilton Hotel Group's recent press release that it will not discriminate against customers and potential customers on the grounds of their nationality. The UK Government oppose all assertions of extraterritorial jurisdiction of other states on UK companies.
	The European Commission has competence within the European Community for dealing with extraterritorial measures taken by third countries against EU member states. The Commission is considering how best to take these issues forward.

IT: Labour Market

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how average salaries for IT professionals in the UK have changed over the last five years; and how they are expected to change over the next 10 years.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 25 March 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how average salaries for IT professionals in the UK have changed over the last five years; and how these are expected to change over the next 10 years. I am replying in her absence. (129675)
	Average levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for full time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. This is the standard definition used for ASHE. The ASHE does not collect information on the self-employed and people who do unpaid work.
	The attached table shows Gross Weekly Pay, for all full time employees classified as IT professionals for the years 2002-2006. Estimates on how earnings are expected to change are not available.
	IT professionals are defined as minor group 213 in the Standard Occupational Classification 2000 - Information and Communication Technology Professionals. This classification group includes the occupations IT Strategy and Planning Professionals, for example computer consultants, and Software Professionals, for example computer programmers.
	The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	
		
			  Average earnings for all full time employee jobs( a)  by occupation( b)  (United Kingdom) 
			   Gross weekly pay 
			   Median  Mean 
			 2002 605 661 
			 2003 618 674 
			 2004 excl 636 693 
			 2004 inc(c) 632 683 
			 2005 656 706 
			 2006 690 746 
			  Notes: (a) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. (b) 'IT professionals'. (c) In 2004 additional supplementary surveys were introduced to improve the coverage of the annual survey of hours and earnings. Figures are preserved both excluding and including the additional surveys for comparison purposes.  Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to be within +/- twice the CVfor example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent., we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220. All of the figures on this table have a CV of less than 5 per cent. The median is the value below which 50 per cent. fall. It is preferred over the mean for earnings data as it is influenced less by extreme values and because of the skewed distribution of earnings data.  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households were successful in being awarded low carbon building programme renewable energy grants on 1 March; and at what time on 1 March the March budget was allocated in full.

Malcolm Wicks: At 9 am on 1 March, the monthly allocation for the household stream opened to new applicants. In less than two hours, we had been successful in allocating 635,340.47 to 189 projects.
	In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the number of unsuccessful household applications to the low carbon buildings programme in March 2007; and if he will make a statement.

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households applied for grants under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme on 1 March; and how long it took for the March funding to be allocated in full.

Malcolm Wicks: In March 2007, 189 household applicants were successfully awarded low carbon buildings programme grants. It is not possible for us to provide details on the number of unsuccessful online applications. However, as of 26 March, there have been 80 unsuccessful postal applications.
	It is important to note that in the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at what time on 1 March the March budget for household installations under the low carbon buildings programme was allocated in full; and how many and what proportion of applicants received grant allocations.

Malcolm Wicks: At 9 am on 1 March, the monthly allocation for the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme opened to new applicants. In less than two hours, we had been successful in allocating 635,340.47 to 189 projects. It is not possible for us to provide details on the number of unsuccessful online applications. However, as of 26 March, there has been 80 unsuccessful postal applications.
	In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many paper applications for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme were successful in each month between November 2006 and March 2007; and what advice his Department gives on the application process to households who do not have access to the internet.

Malcolm Wicks: The following table shows the number of successful postal applicants under the low carbon buildings programme household stream since November 2006.
	
		
			  Month  Number of successful postal applicants 
			 November 2006 381 
			 December 2006 165 
			 January 2007 65 
			 February 2007 24 
			 March 2007 18 
		
	
	This demonstrates that we have seen a number of successful postal applicants since November 2006. However, where applicants have access to the internet, they are encouraged to apply online.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many household applications were received to the low carbon buildings programme in  (a) September 2006,  (b) October 2006 and  (c) November 2006; and what the total value was of such applications in each month.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the low carbon buildings programme phase 1, the number of successful household applicants in September to November 2006 is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of applicants  Valu e () 
			 September 393 785,459.30 
			 October 1,071 1,342,226.50 
			 November 1,051 1,296,116.18

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the total sum required to meet household demand for grants in full under the low carbon buildings programme for the duration of the programme; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to increase funding for household installations under the low carbon buildings programme.

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will  (a) increase the budget for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme and  (b) take steps to ensure that funds for household grants under the programme are available throughout each month.

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will increase the funds available for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme; and if he will make a statement.

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to ensure that funds available for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme in April 2007 are sufficient to meet demand.

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that the low carbon buildings programme is capable of meeting the demand of households for renewable energy capital grants; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households in the UK  (a) applied for and  (b) were awarded grants under the low carbon buildings programme in (i) 2006, (ii) January 2007 and (iii) February 2007.

Malcolm Wicks: The following table shows the number of applications received and grants awarded under the low carbon buildings programme household stream in 2006, January 2007 and February 2007.
	
		
			  Period  Number of applications received  Number awarded grants 
			 April 2006 to December 2006 5,103 4,672 
			 January 2007 381 264 
			 February 2007 326 199

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many public sector buildings in the UK  (a) applied for and  (b) were awarded grants under the low carbon buildings programme in (i) 2006, (ii) January 2007 and (iii) February 2007.

Malcolm Wicks: The following table shows the number of applications received for public sector buildings under the low carbon buildings programme in 2006, January 2007 and February 2007.
	
		
			  Phase 1 
			  Period  Number of applications received  Number awarded grants 
			 April 2006 to December 2006 115 0 
			 January 2007 33 0 
			 February 2007 1 0 
		
	
	As we only recently completed our assessment of applications received under the first call of stream two, no grant awards have been made to date.
	
		
			  Phase 2 
			  Period  Number of applications received  Number awarded grants 
			 December 2006 0 0 
			 January 2007 1 0 
			 February 2007 1 0

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there are plans to increase the budget of the low carbon buildings programme.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 14 March 2007
	 In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what average number of households per month was receiving grants under the low carbon buildings programme in the 12 months prior to the introduction of a monthly cap; and how many households were allocated grants on 1 March.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 12 March 2007
	Prior to the introduction of the monthly cap, we made an average of 540 grant awards per month to low carbon buildings programme household applicants.
	The purpose of the cap was to ensure the resources did not run out before June 2008. In March 2007, we allocated grants to 189 household applicants.
	In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at what time on 1 March the March funding became available for household projects under the low carbon buildings programme; at what time on that day it was allocated in full; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 12 March 2007
	At 9.00 am on 1 March, the monthly allocation for the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme opened to new applicants. In less than 2 hours, we had been successful in allocating 635,340.47 to 189 projects.
	In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of likely household demand for low carbon buildings programme grants to March 2009; and whether he expects additional funding from the Treasury to be required to meet that demand.

Malcolm Wicks: In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	We aim to continue funding until June 2008, by which time some of our wider measures to promote microgeneration should be taking hold.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of monthly grant capping under the low carbon buildings programme on consumer demand for micro-renewables;
	(2)  what alternative means of support his Department offers to householders who failed to secure grant support for micro renewable installations under the low carbon buildings programme on 1 March; and if he will make a statement.

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice his Department is offering to householders who encountered internet access problems while attempting to apply for a grant under the low carbon buildings programme on 1 March.

Malcolm Wicks: In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he expects the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme to end; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	The low carbon buildings programme is a demonstration not deployment programme, and we believe that the current funding made available to the household stream will allow us to meet the key objectives of the scheme.
	We aim to continue funding until June 2008, by which time some of our wider measures to promote microgeneration should be taking hold.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the level of household demand for capital grants under the low carbon buildings programme to March 2009.

Malcolm Wicks: In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.
	We aim to continue funding until June 2008, by which time some of our wider measures to promote microgeneration should be taking hold.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons his Department introduced a limit on the amount of capital grants to be allocated to households in any calendar month under the low carbon buildings programme; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The purpose of the monthly cap was to ensure the resources did not run out before June 2008.
	In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK household micro renewable market of his Department's introduction of a monthly cap for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme.

Malcolm Wicks: Prior to the introduction of the monthly cap, we made an average of 540 grant awards per month to low carbon buildings programme household applicants.
	The purpose of the cap was to ensure the resources did not run out before June 2008. In March 2007, we allocated grants to 189 household applicants.
	In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he is giving to householders who did not obtain a grant under the low carbon buildings programme on 1 February and 1 March.

Malcolm Wicks: In the Budget, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

Overseas Companies: Colombia

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to ensure British-based companies fulfil their social obligations when pursuing mining interests in Colombia.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 27 March 2007
	 The Government are a signatory to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. These are voluntary standards of responsible corporate behaviour. UK companies are expected to adhere to the guidelines wherever they operate. Allegations of breaches of the guidelines can be investigated.

Post Offices

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of post offices that will be required for the Post Office to meet the new access criteria that he has proposed.

Jim Fitzpatrick: No such estimate has been made. Following Government's final decisions, which I expect to announce in May, Post Office Ltd. will develop specific plans for the network which ensure that the access criteria are met. Those plans will also reflect the Government framework of a maximum of 2,500 compensated closures of sub-post offices.

Post Offices

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the reasons were for delaying the response to the consultation on the future of the Post Office from March to May.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department received over 2,500 representations to its consultation on the Post Office network. We need more time to give full consideration to the comments submitted and hope to be able to announce our final decisions in May.

Sustainable Development

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the merits of appointing a chief engineer to advise the Government on sustainable infrastructure.

Malcolm Wicks: The role of the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) is a broad one, covering all scientific, engineering and technological disciplines.
	The GCSA, currently Sir David King, has provided advice on a wide range of issues relating to sustainable infrastructure, for example in connection with climate change and energy, and including via previous Foresight projects on Intelligent Infrastructure Systems and Flooding and Coastal Defence, and the current Sustainable Energy Management and the Built Environment project.

Venture Capital: Takeovers

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of recent takeover activities of private equity organisations on trade, industry and business.

Ian McCartney: The Government have not undertaken an assessment of the impact of recent takeover activities of private equity organisations.
	The regulatory control of mergers and acquisitions which qualify under the Enterprise Act 2002 is a matter for the relevant independent competition authorities which assess mergers on the grounds of their impact on competition in the market.
	Separately, the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers supervises and regulates takeovers in accordance with the rules set out in the Takeover Code. The panel is an independent body which issues and administers the code. The code provides an orderly framework within which takeovers are conducted and so contribute to the integrity of the financial markets. The code is designed to ensure that shareholders are treated fairly and are not denied an opportunity to decide on the merits of a takeover. The code is not, however, concerned with the financial or commercial advantages or disadvantages of a takeover; these are matters for the company and its shareholders.

Whales

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with his foreign counterparts on whaling in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 194W.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Civil Servants: British Nationality

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in which Departments Ministers have the power to designate posts as reserved to UK nationals; how many designations have been made by Ministers, broken down by department; and if she will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Each Minister responsible for a Department has the authority to designate a post as reserved if it meets one of the categories set out in the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007. If a post does not fall within these categories, then it is not capable of being reserved. The Cabinet Office will be collecting information in due course on the number of posts designated by Ministers as reserved.

Civil Servants: British Nationality

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what estimate she has made of the  (a) number and  (b) percentage of Civil Service posts that need to be reserved to UK nationals in the public interest; and if she will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: It is estimated that about 5 per cent. (27,000) of Civil Service posts will need to be reserved to UK nationals.

Civil Servants: British Nationality

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many certificates under the Aliens' Employment Act 1955 permitting employment of aliens in the Civil Service are in force; how many there were in 2006-07; and in which Departments those holding such a certificate work.

Patrick McFadden: Figures for 2006-07 are still to be finalised. For information on earlier years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 314W.

Departments: Advertising

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much her Department spent on  (a) sponsoring newspaper or publication supplements and  (b) funding advertorials in newspapers or publications in the last year for which figures are available; and what the subject was of each.

Hilary Armstrong: Cabinet Office communication group commissioned two sponsored supplements and no advertorials in 2005-06. These supplements were commissioned to promote the 'Transforming Public Services' conference, as part of the UK presidency of the EU and to promote the 10-point diversity plan for the civil service. These were commissioned at a total cost of 44,000.

Departments: Credit Cards

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff in her Department have corporate charge cards.

Hilary Armstrong: There are five staff within the Cabinet Office who have corporate charge cards.
	We are currently phasing out the corporate charge card with the intention to replace them with the Government procurement card.

European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what  (a) consultations she held and  (b) representations she received on the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 (i) prior and (ii) subsequent to its introduction; and if she will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 was drawn up after extensive consultation exercises within Government and with the support of the Council of Civil Service Unions. These also involved bilateral meetings between senior officials from the Cabinet Office and those Departments and agencies responsible for 98 per cent. of all reserved posts. Cabinet Office officials continue to liaise with departments and agencies while the new arrangements are being put in place.

European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps she is taking to publicise the effects of the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 to  (a) potential civil service recruits and  (b) the public; and if she will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The civil service recruitment gateway, the guidance on the civil service nationality rules and the civil service management code are currently being revised to reflect the new arrangements under the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 and will be placed shortly on the Cabinet Office website. Central guidance on the new legislation was issued on 6 March by the Cabinet Office to HR directors and chief executive officers throughout the civil service to allow them to amend their recruitment literature.

European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance she has issued to Government Departments following the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 on the employment of  (a) non-Irish EEA nationals in a public service reserved post,  (b) an alien in any civil service post without a certificate and  (c) an alien spouse of a UK national in the civil service; and if she will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 has no effect on the position of  (a) non-Irish EEA nationals in public service reserved posts,  (b) an alien in the civil service without a certificate issued under the Aliens' Employment Act 1955, and  (c) an alien spouse of a UK national. They remain ineligible.

European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what Government policy is on employment of  (a) Commonwealth,  (b) Irish and  (c) EEA nationals in the Civil Service, following the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007; and if she will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Commonwealth, Irish and EEA nationals are already eligible to apply for all non-reserved posts in the Civil Service. The European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 defines more clearly the categories of post which may be reserved. It is anticipated that, following the Order, something in the region of a further 70,000 posts in the Civil Service will be open, in addition to UK nationals, to Commonwealth, Irish and EEA nationals.

European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what assessment she has made of the effect of the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 on the  (a) number and  (b) percentage of posts reserved for UK nationals; and if she will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: It is anticipated that the number of posts reserved for UK nationals will be reduced by about 70,000 following the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007. This represents a reduction of 13 per cent. against the previous number of reserved posts within the Civil Service.

Ministerial Activities

Michael Penning: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what activities she has undertaken in a ministerial capacity in the last 12 months; and what costs were associated with each activity.

Hazel Blears: My ministerial activities include membership of Cabinet and 20 Cabinet committees, participation in the ongoing policy review process, and involvement and discussion with ministerial colleagues in specific policy areas as appropriate.
	The costs associated with these activities are not held separately.

Project George

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will publish the business case for Project George.

Hilary Armstrong: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 8 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2198-99W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Administration of Justice: Females

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2007,  Official Report, column 391W, on the administration of justice: females, whether he plans to make an estimate of the cost implications of implementing the recommendations of the Corston report.

John Reid: Yes. We welcome Baroness Corston's report and will now be looking at the recommendations in detail. This work will include an assessment of the resource implications of her proposals.

Bronzefield Prison: Foreigners

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners housed in HMP Bronzefield are not British citizens, broken down by nationality.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on the numbers of prisoners held in Bronzefield under immediate custodial sentence on 31 January 2007 showing the numbers of non-British nationals can be found in the following table.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. It is for this reason that the information on all nationalities is not provided by individual prison establishment, as the numbers are not necessarily accurate to this level of detail.
	
		
			  Prisoners under immediate custodial sentence held in HMP Bronzefield on 31 January 2007 
			   Number 
			 All 18 
			 Foreign national 42 
			 Not recorded 3 
			 UK national 135

Cannabis

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons  (a) under 18 and  (b) over 18 years were (i) cautioned and (ii) convicted by the courts in each of the last five years for possession of cannabis.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 27 March 2007
	Available information relates to persons in England and Wales dealt with under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 of unlawfully possessing cannabis between 2000 and 2004. Figures are in the following table.
	Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, police forces and other agencies. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
	
		
			  Number of persons (a) aged under 18 and (b) aged 18 and over cautioned or found guilty of unlawfully possessing cannabis: England and Wales, 2000 to 2004 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			  (a) Persons aged under 18:  
			 Reprimands (1)7213 (1)7,878 (1)8,869 (1)6,220 (1)4,769 
			 Warnings (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) 
			 Found guilty 3,764 4,383 4,997 5,367 4,111 
			  (b) Persons aged 18 and over:  
			 Cautions 26,512 24,762 28,941 29,209 15,214 
			 Formal warnings n/a n/a n/a n/a (2)27,520 20 
			 Found guilty 28,528 27,903 31,234 33,995 18,850 
			 (1 )Separate figures for reprimands and warnings, which replaced cautions for persons aged under 18 in selected areas of England and Wales on 30 September 1998, are not available for 2000 to 2002. (2 )Formal warnings data for cannabis possession have been available since April 2004. Those aged 18 and over who are caught in simple possession of cannabis can be eligible for a police formal warning which would not involve an arrest. Police issued 27,520 formal warnings between April and December 2004.

Cannabis

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those convicted by the courts for possession of cannabis in each of the last five years  (a) received a custodial sentence and  (b) received a fine.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 27 March 2007
	Available information relates to persons found guilty in England and Wales under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 of unlawfully possessing cannabis between 2000 and 2004. See following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of persons found guilty of unlawfully possessing cannabis who (a) received a custodial sentence and (b) were fined: England and Wales, 2000 to 2004. 
			  Percentage 
			   Custodial sentence( 1)  Fined 
			 2000 6 52 
			 2001 6 51 
			 2002 5 50 
			 2003 4 50 
			 2004(2) 5 43 
			 (1) Includes suspended sentences. (2) Formal warnings, which do not involve an arrest or court appearance, were introduced nationally in April 2004 for persons aged 18 and over caught in simple possession of cannabis. Police issued 27,520 such warnings between April and December 2004.

Chemical Weapons

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department has undertaken of the capacity of the UK emergency services to cope with a chemical attack on UK populations and towns.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office reviews such capacity on a regular and ongoing basis and through a variety of means. These include direct contact with individual area emergency services; exercising of response capability; audits and assessments as part of the Cabinet Office led Capabilities Programme, and analysis of the results of the National Capabilities Survey.

Chemical Weapons: Training

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training exercises have been undertaken by  (a) UK emergency services and  (b) UK Government Departments on chemical attacks since 2001.

Tony McNulty: Of the large-scale live counter terrorism exercises led by the Home Office since 2001, two have had a specific chemical attack element. In addition to such national exercises, a wide range of regional and local counter terrorism and consequence management exercises (both live and table top) are held each year. The Home Office does not collate details of all of these, nor of exercises involving other Government Departments, and does not therefore have information on the total number of such exercises held since 2001 which may have included chemical attack scenarios.

Community Service Orders: Finance

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average daily cost of supervising an offender on a community order.

John Reid: For 2005-06 the average annual cost per case for a community sentence (including Suspended Sentence Orders) has been estimated as 3,265. This gives a simple average figure of 9 per day.
	As 2005-06 was a transitional year, with sentences running under both the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the previous regulations, this estimated cost should be treated with caution.

Crime Statistics: Somerset

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2007,  Official Report, column 189W, on crime statistics: Somerset, how many people were charged with  (a) possession of illegal drugs and  (b) possession with intent to supply in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police authority area; and how many of those charged were (i) found guilty and (ii) under the age of 18 years.

Vernon Coaker: Information on charging for these offences is not held centrally.
	Available information relates to persons dealt with under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 by police force area in England and Wales between 1995 and 2004 who were: (a)i found guilty; (b) aged under 18 years and found guilty; (c) cautioned by police; (d) aged under 18 years and cautioned. The information has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, police forces and other agencies. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Crimes against the Person: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were charged with assaulting a police officer in Lancashire in each of the past five years.

Tony McNulty: Data on charging are not collected centrally.
	Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of people proceeded against at magistrates courts and convicted at all courts for the offence of assaulting a constable in Lancashire, 2001 to 2005, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for the offence of assaulting a constable in Lancashire police force area 2001-05( 1, 2) 
			   Proceeded against 
			  Offence description  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Assault on a constable 627 682 733 708 739 
		
	
	
		
			   Found guilty 
			  Offence description  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Assault on a constable 449 494 513 530 547 
			 (1 )These data are on the principal offence basis. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Crimes of Violence: Police Cautions

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cautions for the offence of common assault were issued in 2006.

Tony McNulty: Information on cautions given to offenders for common assaults in 2006 will be available in the autumn of 2007.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much compensation was granted by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in each of the last five years, broken down by postcode area of the address of the recipient.

John Reid: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many applications for compensation have been received by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many applicants for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority have received payments in the last 12 months;
	(3)  what the cumulative total is of payments made to applicants for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in the last 12 months.

John Reid: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme: Data for the 12 months 1 March 2006 to 28 February 2007 
			   Tariff scheme  Old (pre-1996) scheme 
			 New applications received 59,316 0 
			 Applications re-opened on medical grounds(1) 150 53 
			 Number of payments made(2) 33,901 78 
			 Compensation paid ( million) 171.3 18.9 
			 Total compensation paid ( million) 190.2 
			 (1) This records the number of cases re-opened on medical grounds in the 12 months ending 28-02-2007. (2) This records the number of payments made during the period. If a claim has had more than one payment during the period, it is only counted once. If the same victim has had payments on separate claims during the period, these are counted, but again only once for each claim. The table does not show the number of claimants whose applications are unsuccessful. On average, some 46 per cent. of claimants do not qualify for compensation under the scheme.

Criminal Records Bureau

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to improve the performance of the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people are awaiting the completion of their criminal records check prior to working with children and vulnerable adults; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what the average time taken was for the Criminal Records Bureau to process a criminal records check for people working with children and vulnerable adults in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ryan: Data concerning the average waiting time taken to complete a disclosure are not a performance target and are not collated by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). The CRB operates to a set of published service standards (PSS) which include to issue 93 per cent. of standard disclosures within 10 days and 90 per cent. of enhanced disclosures within 28 days. For January 2007, the CRB issued 99.2 per cent. of standard disclosures and 90.8 per cent. of enhanced disclosures within PSS.
	Within these overarching performance standards, there are a number of targets that are the responsibility of the CRB that the Bureau has been meeting consistently.
	There are a number of other factors that can affect the timely completion of checks by the CRB, including but not restricted to the length of time it can take for an employer to deal with the initial application, the accurate completion of the application form, the clarity of the information provided, the existence of conviction or non-conviction information and the operational effectiveness of the disclosure units of the police forces involved in the enhanced disclosure process.
	In order to address these, the CRB has provided more support to all counter-signatories and customers in the form of detailed guidance notes which accompany the application forms to ensure that applications are completed accurately and are accompanied by all relevant supporting documentation. The CRB has also established a rigorous compliance and assurance function to ensure that registered bodies make the best use of the disclosure service.
	There have been fluctuations in the performance of some of the police disclosure units, caused by a combination of factors including a significant increase in disclosure applications and a combination of local staffing and IT problems.
	However, the police and the CRB have been working closely together to identify ways of tackling these problems in forces, which have included additional resources for disclosure unit managers and a greater degree of monitoring performance and support. These initiatives have been strengthened by a new service level agreement in April 2006 between the CRB and all the 43 forces in England and Wales, which focuses on service delivery. These measures have led to a substantial improvement in the overall disclosure process in recent months.
	The CRB has issued approximately 285,000 applications each month in the last six months and as at 23 March 2007 162,826 applications are in progress.

Custodial Treatment: Young Offenders

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many under-18 year olds are serving sentences of less than three months; and how many were given sentences of less than three months in each quarter of the last two years.

John Reid: Following the introduction of the detention and training order nationally on 1 April 2000 under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the minimum custodial sentence length for persons under 18 has been four months.

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) (i) arrests and (ii) charges were made and  (b) convictions were secured under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each London basic command unit in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: Information on arrests for recorded crime offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is not separately identifiable within the arrests collection held by the Office for Criminal justice Reform. The collection is based on persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) by main offence group (i.e. violence against the person, robbery, burglary, criminal damage etc.) and at police force area level only.
	Information on charging is not collected centrally.
	Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of people proceeded against at magistrates courts and convicted at all courts for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in London, 2001 to 2005 can be viewed in the following table.
	
		
			  The number of people proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts in Greater London for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, for the years 2001-05( 1,2,3) 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			   Prosecuted  Guilty  Prosecuted  Guilty  Prosecuted  Guilty  Prosecuted  Guilty  Prosecuted  Guilty 
			 Bow Street 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Camberwell Green/Tower Bridge 10 2 7 5 9 3 8 5 11 5 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 10 4 9 8 8 9 8 5 4 1 
			 Highbury Corner 7 4 1 1 10 0 3 1 5 3 
			 Horseferry Road 3 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 
			 Marylebone 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 South Western 0 1 0 0 3 3 4 3 9 5 
			 Thames 4 2 14 5 10 5 4 2 4 4 
			 West London 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 3 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2 0 2 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 
			 Barnet 4 3 2 2 6 2 7 3 2 1 
			 Bexley 2 0 0 0 1 1 1  3 1 
			 Brent 7 5 2 1 1 1 2 1 3 2 
			 Bromley 2 0 2 3 1 0 2 1 8 3 
			 Croydon 9 5 5 4 10 5 2 1 2 1 
			 Ealing 2 3 1 1 2 1 5 2 2 1 
			 Enfield 2 3 0 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 
			 Haringey 3 2 6 1 3 1 4 4 0 0 
			 Harrow 3 3 3 1 2 1 2 2 0 0 
			 Havering 4 1 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Hillingdon 3 1 7 4 2 1 7 6 4 4 
			 Hounslow 2 1 5 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 
			 Merton 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 2 1 0 
			 Newham 0 0 1 0 3 2 4 3 3 2 
			 Redbridge 5 3 4 2 4 2 2 1 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 5 2 4 3 4 4 3 1 2 3 
			 Sutton 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 2 
			 Waltham Forest 4 2 5 5 3 1 1 0 2 1 
			 Total 97 51 86 52 91 47 82 48 80 47 
			 (1 )These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Prosecutions are counted by date of final outcome in the magistrates court. Guilty figures are counted by the date of sentence in both magistrates courts and Crown courts. Hence guilty figures can exceed prosecutions where they reflect cases of people being Found guilty in the magistrates court and committed for sentence to the Crown court, the two events being counted in two different years.  Source:  RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Drugs

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to review the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Vernon Coaker: There are no plans to review the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Drugs: Crime

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are in prison for drug offences; how many were in prison for drug offences in 1997; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: At the end of January 2007 there were 1,241 women held in prison in England and Wales for drugs offences. On 30 June 1997 the number was 815.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Drugs: Misuse

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the prevalence of  (a) heroin,  (b) cocaine,  (c) cannabis,  (d) ecstasy and  (e) amphetamines use in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: Estimates of the prevalence of drug use among the household population in England and Wales are provided by the British Crime Survey (BCS), which has included a comparable self-completion module on drug use since 1996.
	The prevalence of self-reported drug use in the past year amongst those aged 16-59 in England and Wales from the BCS is shown in the following table. This shows that use of amphetamines and cannabis has declined significantly since 1998. Cocaine powder use has increased over the same period but most of this increase took place prior to 2000, since when use has remained generally stable.
	It should be noted that general population surveys such as the British Crime Survey provide poor coverage of more problematic users, who are more likely to use heroin and crack. These figures are therefore likely to be an underestimate of use of these drugs. A three year research programme is currently underway which will provide us with a better assessment of trends in the prevalence of problematic opiate and crack use in the future.
	
		
			  Table 1. Figures for the proportion of 16-59 year olds reporting 'having used drugs in the last year', 1996 to 2006-06 British Crime Survey 
			  Drugs  1996  1998  2000  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  Statistically significant change 1998 to 2005-06 
			 Any Cocaine 0.6 1.3 20. 20. 2.1 2.5 2.0 2.4 (1) 
			 Cocaine powder 0.6 1.2 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.4 2.0 2.4 (1) 
			 Crack cocaine 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2  
			 Ecstasy 1.7 1.5 1.8 2.2 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.6  
			 Heroin 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1  
			 Amphetamines 3.2 3.0 2.1 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 (2) 
			 Cannabis 9.5 10.3 10.5 10.6 10.9 10.8 9.7 8.7 (2) 
			   
			 Unweighted base 10,741 9,884 12,771 19,973 23,357 24,197 28,206 29,631  
			 (1 )Statistically significant increase at the 5 per cent. level. (2 )Statistically significant decrease at the 5 per cent. level.  Note: From 2001, the reporting year for BCS data switched from calendar to financial years.  Source: 1996,1998, 2000, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 BCS.

Drunkenness: Crime Prevention

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for the  (a) introduction and  (b) designation of alcohol disorder zones by local authorities.

Vernon Coaker: Sections 15-20 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 empower local authorities to designate Alcohol Disorder Zones (ADZs) where there is nuisance, disorder or annoyance associated with the consumption of alcohol in the area or the consumption of alcohol supplied in the area which is likely to be repeated. The Act allows the Secretary of State to make regulations enabling local authorities to charge certain licensed premises in ADZs for additional enforcement activity.
	The Act requires the Secretary of State to issue guidance to cover the use of ADZs and requires him to consult stakeholders before that guidance is issued. The guidance will be subject to formal consultation shortly. Following the consultation, regulations will be placed before Parliament at the earliest opportunity. The earliest possible date for commencement of ADZs will be 1 October 2007, in line with the Common Commencement Date (CCD) initiative for regulation bearing on business.
	Local authorities may designate an ADZ, in their area, following commencement provided that the statutory criteria are met. These include undertaking a 28 day consultation period and an opportunity for licensees to take steps to implement an Action Plan within eight weeks of its publication. The guidance will place ADZs as a last resort intervention.

Fingerprints: Pilot Schemes

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the results of the pilot project codenamed Lantern on the use of mobile fingerprint scanners.

John Reid: The Lantern pilot is still in its early stages and the initial results and feedback received to date indicate that Lantern is delivering the expected business benefits and that officers are finding it easy to operate and a useful tool that they would not want to be withdrawn. Currently results are being returned to the device in less than two minutes with an accuracy rate of approximately 97 per cent. and a hit rate of 40 per cent. (i.e. 40 per cent. of people checked are recorded on IDENT1). This high hit rate reflects the environment in which the devices are being usedproactive, intelligence led policing.
	A number of arrests have been made, particularly of disqualified drivers presenting false ID. Lantern has also been used to identify a vehicle occupant who presented a false identity but was wanted by three forces for fraud and ATM card skimming. In another case Lantern played a large part in apprehending a man described by police as 'the most wanted nominal' in the area. In many of these cases the individuals would not have been arrested without the identifications provided by Lantern.
	Results indicate that Lantern is showing time savings beyond expectations and hence allowing officers to spend more time on the streets and providing a visible deterrent. Establishing a person's identity at the roadside avoids the need to arrest a person and take them to a custody suite to do thisa process which typically takes about three hours. Early results show that in encounters where officers have reported a time saving using Lantern, the average time saved has been about 90 minutes. There have also been a number of cases where Lantern has provided early identification of deceased persons carrying no ID and hence saved a considerable amount of police and coroners time and also enabled next of kin to be informed sooner. Cases have included fatal road traffic collisions, sudden deaths and suicide victims on railway lines.

Firearms: Imports

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assault rifles and machine guns imported in 2005 from Bosnia, Herzegovina and Croatia have been destroyed.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 27 March 2007
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Identity and Passport Service: Contracts

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts the Identity and Passport Service has with Whitehead Mann; what the value and remit of such contracts are; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: IPS has one Contract with Whitehead Mann to provide executive search Services in relation to the recruitment of Executive Directors. The value of this contract is commercially confidential.

Identity Cards

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral answer from the Minister for Immigration of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1, on identity cards, which 55 countries propose to introduce biometric passports; and which two do not have plans for biometric passports.

John Reid: My hon. Friend identified 53 countries that have introduced or indicated that they propose to introduce biometric passports (containing a facial biometric image) as stated on 19 February 2007,  Official Report , column 1. Since then, updated research has identified 54 such countries.
	These include all 27 member states of the European Union and the following other countries:
	Australia
	Canada
	China
	Egypt
	Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region)
	India
	Indonesia
	Japan
	The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
	Malaysia
	Morocco
	New Zealand
	Nigeria
	Pakistan
	Philippines
	Russian Federation
	Serbia
	Singapore
	South Africa
	South Korea
	Switzerland
	Taiwan
	Thailand
	Turkey
	United Arab Emirates
	United States
	Venezuela
	On the basis of the latest information obtained by the Identity and Passport Service, Brazil, Argentina and the Ukraine do not have plans at present to introduce e-Passports, although such information may be subject to change. We also understand that Mexico does not have any plans at present to introduce e-Passports but does record the fingerprints of individuals prior to the issue of a passport.

Kongra-Gel

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reviews of the ban on Kongra-Gel under anti terror legislation have recently taken place.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 26 March 2007
	Kongra-Gel was added to the list of proscribed organisations as an alternative name for the already proscribed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in August 2006. A rolling programme of reviews of each of the groups on the list is currently in train; Kongra-Gel has not yet been reviewed as part of this process.

Metropolitan Police: Civilians

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan Police civilian staff are based in each London borough.

Tony McNulty: The available data are at the Basic Command Unit (BCU) level and are given in the table.
	Within the Metropolitan Police force area, borough boundaries are coterminous with BCU boundaries with the addition of the Heathrow airport BCU and the Central Services BCU (Central Services does not have a geographic boundary).
	
		
			  Police staff( 1)  strength (FTE)( 2)  by Metropolitan Police force basic command unit( 3) , as at 31 March 2006 
			  Basic command unit  Police staff 
			 Barking and Dagenham 130 
			 Barnet 171 
			 Bexley 165 
			 Brent 172 
			 Bromley 149 
			 Camden 265 
			 City of Westminster 617 
			 Croydon 203 
			 Ealing 181 
			 Enfield 158 
			 Greenwich 172 
			 Hackney 204 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 151 
			 Haringey 187 
			 Harrow 108 
			 Havering 128 
			 Hillingdon 145 
			 Hounslow 135 
			 Islington 131 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 224 
			 Kingston upon Thames 104 
			 Lambeth 272 
			 Lewisham 188 
			 Merton 105 
			 Newham 226 
			 Redbridge 152 
			 Richmond upon Thames 116 
			 Southwark 244 
			 Sutton 125 
			 Tower Hamlets 250 
			 Waltham Forest 157 
			 Wandsworth 179 
			 (1) Police staff include police community support officers, traffic wardens and designated officers. (2) Full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number, due to rounding there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of constituent items. Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) In addition to the BCUs which are coterminous with London boroughs, Heathrow airport BCU has 185 staff, and Central Services has 10,640 staff.

National Identity Register

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1752-3W, on the national identity register, what percentage of the  (a) set up and  (b) running costs of the national identity scheme will not be funded by fee revenue.

John Reid: It is intended that the cost of the National Identity Scheme, which includes the National Identity Register, will be primarily funded by fee revenue from the products and services that arise from the scheme.
	The schedule of fees for the National Identity Scheme cannot be finalised until  (a) contracts with suppliers connected to the operation of the scheme are signed and  (b) the schedule of fees are approved by Parliament. Hence, while funding will still come predominantly from fee income, it is not possible to provide precise details of the proportion of costs that will be not be covered by fee revenue until such issues are finalised.

Offensive Weapons: Greater London

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made concerning weapons offences since the deployment of additional armed police in London in February.

Tony McNulty: These data are not collected centrally.

Passports: Applications

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the net cost of introducing interviews into the passport application process.

Joan Ryan: The estimated cost of providing and running interview offices for the first year of operation in 2006-07 was published on 21 April 2006 in the Identity and Passport Service Corporate and Business Plan.

Police

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to provide ring-fenced funding to police authorities who incur significant costs in the provision of translation and interpretation services; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 23 March 2007
	The police service in England and Wales has benefited from a significant increase in resources over a sustained period. On a like-for-like basis Government grant and central spending on services for the police will have increased by over 62 per cent. or over 4.2 billion between 2000-01 and 2007-08.
	Government funding for police authorities is chiefly allocated using a funding formula that provides an assessment of the relative need of each police force in England and Wales.
	Funding for translation and interpretation services is not separately identified. Decisions on the distribution of resources are matters for the chief officer and the police authority.

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which aspects of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 he plans to review following his announcement on 6 March; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: A written ministerial statement was made on 14 March 2007 announcing the commencement of a public consultation exercise on the Review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library and can be obtained from:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/powers-pace-codes/pace-code-intro/

Police Custody

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were placed in police cells overnight in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Between 11 July and 20 December 2002 prisoners were held in police cells under Operation Safeguard on a total of 28,650 occasions.
	Between 12 October and 22 December 2006 police custody under Operation Safeguard was used on 4,617 occasions.
	Operation Safeguard was reactivated on 22 January 2007.
	Between 22 January and 9 March it was used on 4,861 occasions.

Police Leadership and Powers Unit

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual salary cost is of the Head of the Police Leadership and Powers Unit.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 22 March 2007
	 It is civil service policy to disclose salary details for senior civil servants at board level only. These are published in the Annual Home Office Resource Accounts. The head of Police Leadership and Powers Unit is not a board level post.

Police Patrolling

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the proportion of time which is spent by police officers on street patrols.

Tony McNulty: I have received a number of representations from hon. Members and from interested parties on all aspects of policingincluding the time spent by police officers on patrol.

Police: Age

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2167W, on the age of police recruits, what the average age was of candidates who were appointed as police officers after being successful at the assessment centre stage in each of the years shown.

Tony McNulty: This information is not held centrally.

Police: Chemical Weapons

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been allocated to police forces to equip themselves to respond to chemical attacks.

Tony McNulty: For security reasons, it is our policy not to provide a detailed breakdown of police force funding or spending on counter terrorism activities and specialist equipment.

Police: Defence Equipment

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for procurement of counter nuclear, biological and chemical protection and detection equipment in his Department.

Tony McNulty: The end to end procurement process for any product involves a number of stages and a number of different units within the Home Office and is carried out in accordance with the relevant legislation and Government procurement guidance. Where, following this process, equipment is centrally procured by the Home Office for use in chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) incidents, such procurement is managed by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Directorate of the Home Office.

Police: Employment

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 548-9W, on police: employment, how many police officers worked part-time in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 1979.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 27 March 2007
	Part-time working in the police service was only introduced in 1992 and then only on an experimental basis. Following successful pilots in six forces part-time working was put on a statutory footing in the Police Regulations 1995.
	Information for the number of part-time police officers for 1997 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Part-time officers by force and gender as at 31 March 1997 
			   Male  Female 
			 Avon and Somerset 1 24 
			 Bedfordshire 0 11 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 14 
			 Cheshire 1 25 
			 Cleveland 1 35 
			 Cumbria 0 11 
			 Derbyshire 1 11 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 39 
			 Dorset 0 18 
			 Durham 0 8 
			 Essex 5 57 
			 Gloucestershire 0 16 
			 Greater Manchester 1 50 
			 Hampshire 0 33 
			 Hertfordshire 0 34 
			 Humberside 1 44 
			 Kent 0 41 
			 Lancashire 0 22 
			 Leicestershire 4 21 
			 Lincolnshire 0 13 
			 London, City of 0 12 
			 Merseyside 0 24 
			 Metropolitan Police 31 366 
			 Norfolk 0 13 
			 Northamptonshire 3 24 
			 Northumbria 3 42 
			 North Yorkshire 0 17 
			 Nottinghamshire 3 34 
			 South Yorkshire 0 28 
			 Staffordshire 0 23 
			 Suffolk 0 10 
			 Surrey 3 29 
			 Sussex 1 39 
			 Thames Valley 2 60 
			 Warwickshire 0 18 
			 West Mercia 2 0 
			 West Midlands 3 89 
			 West Yorkshire 1 52 
			 Wiltshire 0 8 
			 Dyfed-Powys 2 9 
			 Gwent 1 13 
			 North Wales 1 4 
			 South Wales 1 20 
			 England and Wales 73 1461 
			  Source: Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate annual returns by police forces.

Police: Ethnic Groups

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many black and Asian officers have applied to become a Commander or Deputy Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police in the last four years; and how many have been successful.

Tony McNulty: In the last four years the Metropolitan Police Authority has held three competitions for Commander posts and four for Deputy Assistant Commissioner posts. For the Commander posts a total of 53 applications were made and 18 officers were appointed. Two of the applicants were from minority ethnic groups; one of those applicants applied on two occasions. Neither applicant was successful.
	For the Deputy Assistant Commissioner posts a total of 41 applications were made and 12 officers were appointed. One of the applicants was from a minority ethnic group; that applicant applied on all four occasions but was not successful.

Police: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average Band D police precept on council tax was in  (a) England,  (b) Wales and  (c) England and Wales in actual prices in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Precepts for police authorities in England and Wales since 1997-98 
			   
			   Average police precept on council tax (Band D) 
			   England  Wales  England and Wales 
			 1997-98 55.09 48.89 54.74 
			 1998-99 59.32 57.03 59.19 
			 1999-2000 64.26 65.91 64.36 
			 2000-01 69.30 79.84 69.89 
			 2001-02 77.80 85.54 78.24 
			 2002-03 89.52 93.87 89.77 
			 2003-04 112.16 115.60 112.36 
			 2004-05 125.91 133.34 126.33 
			 2005-06 132.62 138.22 132.95 
			 2006-07 139.97 145.07 140.28 
			 2007-08 147.90 153.03 148.21 
			  Source: Department for Communities and Local Government and Welsh Assembly Government

Police: Misconduct

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration has been given to misconduct proceedings against officers involved in the interception of telephone conversations between Chief Superintendent Dizaei and members of the Black Police Association.

Tony McNulty: The question of any misconduct proceedings is an operational matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

Police: Misconduct

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why an independent review of Operation Helios as recommended by the Morris Inquiry has not been instituted.

Tony McNulty: The Morris Inquiry was commissioned by the Metropolitan Police Service and, the implementation of any recommendations is a matter for it and the Metropolitan Police Authority.

Police: Misconduct

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much  (a) has been paid and  (b) he estimates may have to be paid in the future by the (i) Metropolitan Police and (ii) Metropolitan Police Authority to officers involved in Operation Helios.

Tony McNulty: Any payments to officers involved in Operation Helios are matters for the Metropolitan Police and the Metropolitan Police Authority.

Police: Pay

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2007,  Official Report, column 257W, on police pay, how much overtime was paid to  (a) police officers,  (b) police community support officers and  (c) civilian staff in each year since 1997, broken down by police force area.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 22 March 2007
	 Data on police overtime is produced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
	Police officer and staff overtime for 1997-98 to 2006-07, broken down by police force area is shown in the table. The figure for PCSO overtime is included in the figure for police staff.
	
		
			  Police Officer overtime costs 
			   Overtime spend 000 
			  Force  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Avon and Somerset 2,835 3,103 4,054 3,443 5,112 7,000 6,899 6,870 5,351 
			 Bedfordshire 1,603 2,132 2,372 2,709 3,992 4,106 4,708 4,693 4,181 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,008 2,081 2,279 2,920 4,102 5,175 4,238  5,550 
			 Cheshire 2,946 2,875 3,406 3,175 3,200 4,751 4,261 3,278 3,951 
			 City of London 1,554 1,386 1,934 2,065 2,375 2,602 2,135 2,185 1,955 
			 Cleveland 1,691 1,986 2,713 2,096 2,996 4,035 3,479 2,188 4,038 
			 Cumbria 1,256 1,376 1,865 1,730 2,095  2,314 2,201 2,317 
			 Derbyshire 2,108 2,287 3,512 2,718 3,278 4,010 3,542 4,009 3,822 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3,634 3,988 4,653 4,831 7,658 6,441 5,476 6,026 6,566 
			 Dorset 1,606 1,619 1,812 1,976 2,233 2,880 2,790 3,581 3,089 
			 Durham 2,046 2,550 2,835 2,538 3,083 3,151 2,868 3,325 3,158 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,437 1,504 1,582 1,694 2,017 2,458 1,794 1,936 2,163 
			 Essex 4,983 6,117 7,204 8,708 8,401 10,601 8,678 10,444 10,688 
			 Gloucestershire 1,625 1,826 2,416 2,209 2,337 3,257 3,430 2,766 3,273 
			 Greater Manchester 7,907 8,902 13,999 12,518 15,981 19,438 14,727 16,138 16,226 
			 Gwent 1,788 1,954 2,934 2,993 3,020 3,184 4,077 3,447 4,123 
			 Hampshire 6,016 7,367 8,322 7,109 8,557 11,603 9,703 11,818 11,243 
			 Hertfordshire 2,907 2,806 3,840 7,056  9,036 7,494 6,854 6,576 
			 Humberside 3,046 3,304 4,259 4,486 5,760 5,790 5,375 5,896 5,991 
			 Kent 4,984 5,307 6,695 6,941 7,420 10,301 9,523 9,877 11,405 
			 Lancashire 4,006 4,853 3,360 4,772 6,773 9,595 7,758 7,057 7,226 
			 Leicestershire 2,634 2,787 3,122 2,946 3,305 4,404 4,123 4,342 4,720 
			 Lincolnshire 1,781 1,702 2,380 2,945 2,537 3,199 2,193 2,856 2,345 
			 Merseyside 6,372 8,411 9,207 8,848 10,455 11,144 11,637 12,577 12,103 
			 Metropolitan Police 57,483 61,816 83,713 94,930 96,428 112,228 132,815 135,717 150,274 
			 Norfolk 3,260 2,826 3,694 3,848 3,737 3,884 3,653 3,950 3,640 
			 North Wales 1,798 1,798 2,389 2,594 2,740 3,446 3,885 3,403 4,099 
			 North Yorkshire 2,111 2,364 3,048 3,738 3,584 3,534 3,199 3,690 4,889 
			 Northamptonshire 1,865 2,181 2,157 2,197  2,688 1,311 2,991 2,246 
			 Northumbria 5,037 5,007 3,970 4,421 4,776 6,217 6,452 7,395 7,736 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,215 2,660 3,567 3,210 4,304 4,626  6,782 5,886 
			 South Wales 2,599 2,805 3,845 4,181 3,993 4,977 5,328 6,291 5,002 
			 South Yorkshire 5,661 5,712 6,218 5,605  8,097 7,601 8,962 9,467 
			 Staffordshire 3,080 3,347  4,664 5,089 7,580 6,241 5,973 6,054 
			 Suffolk 1,304 1,421 1,367 1,760 1,775 1,815 2,031 2,171 2,041 
			 Surrey  2,457 3,999 5,028 5,674 6,573 5,676 6,228 6,322 
			 Sussex 3,985 3,753  14,418 8,159 6,098 7,971 8,887 8,213 
			 Thames Valley 7,408 6,919 7,713 8,381 12,052 12,006 11,504 12,345 11,810 
			 Warwickshire 1,077 1,372 1,585 1,773 1,811 2,207 1,945 2,279 3,056 
			 West Mercia 2,654 2,896 3,088 3,837 4,495 4,857 4,503 4,491 4,107 
			 West Midlands 8,657 10,283 9,838 11,366  18,785 16,637 18,009 23,496 
			 West Yorkshire 6,461 5,365 6,746 7,322 11,839 13,510 10,997 13,549 13,323 
			 Wiltshire 1,408 1,535 2,028 1,850 1,770 1,940 1,440 2,430 1,903 
			  Source:  CIPFA Police Statistics: Actuals 2005/061997/98 
		
	
	
		
			  Police staff overtime costs 
			   Overtime spend 000 
			  Force  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000 -01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Avon and Somerset 579 443 444 473 690 882 920 839 537 
			 Bedfordshire 314 345 349 274 304 362 333 436 177 
			 Cambridgeshire 177 225 184 179 240 418 309  124 
			 Cheshire 207 254 253 240 272 293 351 274 254 
			 City of London 188 194 202 173 237 223 219 262 321 
			 Cleveland 117 172 273 184 306 384 338 132 269 
			 Cumbria 193 172 166 243 398  375 357 312 
			 Derbyshire 265 264 307 294 508 567 553 500 471 
			 Devon and Cornwall 457 497 518 633 782 853 807 936 764 
			 Dorset 236 247 293 495 622 376 380 450 215 
			 Durham 238 269 181 204 186 169 182 244 281 
			 Dyfed-Powys 136 119 153 22 130 189 164 193 184 
			 Essex 411 513 613 974 1,193 1,315 1,415 1,296 785 
			 Gloucestershire 146 228 256 201 263 307 300 273 320 
			 Greater Manchester 891 953 1,205 1,561 1,701 1,825 2,052 2,295 1,501 
			 Gwent 450 462 586 726 711 827 1,008 994 268 
			 Hampshire 388 500 944 637 903 1,026 1,130 1,507 1,462 
			 Hertfordshire 154 326 463 655  1,050 1,097 1,298 539 
			 Humberside 600 660 762 664 880 979 912 1,018 216 
			 Kent 692 666 819 1,028 1,023 1,389 1,531 1,875 1,225 
			 Lancashire 435 578 623 535 575 791 830 748 569 
			 Leicestershire   274 304 340 416 394 431 317 
			 Lincolnshire 227 234 333 414 395 462 310 385 288 
			 Merseyside 567 954 1,015 1,367 1,614 1,567 1,667 1,977 1,163 
			 Metropolitan Police 20,103 20,285 12,157 12,480 10,433 12,713 14,864 16,012 25,203 
			 Norfolk 453 351 308 377 486 501 305 503 197 
			 North Wales 197 185 194 233 337 438 515 566 245 
			 North Yorkshire 164 214 297 291 378 418 425 582 636 
			 Northamptonshire  39 226 320  401 629 685 330 
			 Northumbria 412 407 361 487 494 6,217 1,429 721 900 
			 Nottinghamshire 252 251 290 320 569 564  754  
			 South Wales 368 362 427 474 512 596 649 869 476 
			 South Yorkshire 199 939 1,024 1,010  1,010 1,168 1,201 1,222 
			 Staffordshire  320  547 451 628 903 666 420 
			 Suffolk 144 128 159 170 199 299 264 397 212 
			 Surrey  752 373 549 661 893 878 1,218 856 
			 Sussex 362 382  2,529 366 594 765 888 647 
			 Thames Valley 955 1,004 1,182 1,256 1,823 1,668 1,831 1,801 1,336 
			 Warwickshire 83 125 136 93 111 249 217 490 48 
			 West Mercia 234 308 358 401 546 503 495 483 328 
			 West Midlands 1,107 1,214 209 1,285  1,123 1,693 1,756 1,103 
			 West Yorkshire 1,967 1,877 2,280 2,497 3,021 3,246 3,424 4,661 3,226 
			 Wiltshire 112 135 209 210 175 172 150 327 170 
			  Source:  CIPFA Police Statistics: Actuals 2005/061997/98

Police: Standards

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of police time was spent on frontline duties in each police force area and in each year since 2003-04; and what targets have been set for each police force area.

John Reid: Front line policing is measured using the Frontline Policing Measure, which is based on the proportion of police officers engaged in front line activities.
	Figures for frontline policing are set out in the following table.
	The Frontline Policing Measure is not just a measure of visibility. It measures time spent carrying out all core policing duties. Examples of frontline activity include dealing with incidents, visible patrol, searches, dealing with informants, interviewing suspects and special operations.
	Full details of the formula used to calculate the measure and complete lists of frontline roles and activities are contained in the Guidance on Statutory Performance Indicators for Policing 2006/07, published by the Police Standards unit and available at:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-publications/publication/performance-and-measurement/SPI_Technical_Guidelines_204.pdf?view=Binary
	Copies of this guidance have been place in the House of Commons Library.
	
		
			  Time spent on front-line policing 2003-04 to 2005-06 
			  Percentage 
			  Front line policing  Baseline year 2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  Target 2007-08 
			 Avon and Somerset 54.90 58.96 60.90 63.30 
			 Bedfordshire 63.70 63.33 62.10 68.50 
			 Cambridgeshire 61.70 60.33 70.70 69.30 
			 Cheshire 63.90 57.69 63.40 71.40 
			 City of London 61.80 63.11 69.10 70.60 
			 Cleveland 55.60 53.56 55.20 69.90 
			 Cumbria 59.80 60.99 59.30 66.90 
			 Derbyshire 61.80 62.47 70.30 70.80 
			 Devon and Cornwall 64.90 64.03 63.10 66.50 
			 Dorset 67.10 68.21 68.70 72.00 
			 Durham 58.60 58.98 59.50 67.60 
			 Dyfed-Powys 62.60 64.09 63.30 68.70 
			 Essex 56.90 60.89 62.70 70.30 
			 Gloucestershire 64.70 68.11 66.50 72.70 
			 Greater Manchester 64.10 61.14 61.20 72.10 
			 Gwent 54.40 65.13 60.00 65.60 
			 Hampshire 62.70 67.01 67.30 67.00 
			 Hertfordshire 60.80 62.90 64.20 73.00 
			 Humberside 59.70 57.28 56.60 68.30 
			 Kent 65.30 66.38 67.50 71.10 
			 Lancashire 62.30 64.25 62.50 68.10 
			 Leicestershire 60.00 60.76 67.80 70.40 
			 Lincolnshire 60.00 64.44 66.50 72.30 
			 Merseyside 57.10 51.49 61.40 72.60 
			 Metropolitan Police 65.20 62.38 61.30 65.80 
			 Norfolk 59.80 62.90 66.70 70.30 
			 North Wales 57.20 63.37 63.50 66.60 
			 North Yorkshire 65.80 64.09 64.40 75.60 
			 Northamptonshire 63.50 60.18 65.50 68.80 
			 Northumbria 57.60 61.75 62.50 71.40 
			 Nottinghamshire 59.10 57.65 59.50 73.00 
			 South Wales 61.10 62.02 61.00 73.40 
			 South Yorkshire 63.70 64.88 65.90 70.20 
			 Staffordshire 58.80 61.47 66.60 68.70 
			 Suffolk 62.40 60.63 59.50 68.50 
			 Surrey 61.40 62.20 63.10 69.40 
			 Sussex 59.80 60.58 61.30 68.50 
			 Thames Valley 63.60 59.81 66.10 68.70 
			 Warwickshire 64.90 66.25 66.20 68.80 
			 West Mercia 63.30 62.82 64.60 71.80 
			 West Midlands 62.10 63.64 61.80 73.10 
			 West Yorkshire 62.80 67.35 70.60 66.70 
			 Wiltshire 60.00 63.32 63.10 68.90 
			 England and Wales 62.10 62.30 63.10 70.80

Prison Service: Hepatitis

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers who are at occupational risk have been required to pay for vaccination against chronic hepatitis B since January 2006.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Where the risk of contracting hepatitis B is identified prison officers are offered hepatitis B immunisation free of charge.

Prisoners: Females

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were sentenced to custody of less than three months in each of the last five years.

John Reid: The number of women sentenced to immediate custody of less than three months in England and Wales for the years 2001 to 2005 is shown in the following table. 2006 figures are due for publication in the autumn.
	
		
			  Women sentenced to immediate custody of less than three months, England and Wales 
			   Number 
			 2001 2,951 
			 2002 3,254 
			 2003 3,290 
			 2004 3,245 
			 2005 3,106 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Prisoners: Pay

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the current average weekly rate of pay is for prisoners.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Prison Service Order 4460, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, devolves responsibility to Governors and Directors of contracted prisons to set rates of pay for their establishment. Central records of individual pay are not kept but, based on total spend, the average rate is approximately 8.00 per week.

Prisons

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 138W, on prisons, what funding has been formally allocated for prison capital works in each of the next five years; what proportion of the 10,000 proposed new prison places this will deliver; and when he expects the formal allocation of the remainder of the 1.7 billion figure to be finalised.

John Reid: The funding for capital expenditure for the next five years has not yet been formally allocated. It is expected that funding for 2007-08 will be allocated shortly. This will make provision for the capital cost of the programme in that year. Indicative funding for the following three years, 2008-09 to 2010-11, will be allocated during 2007. 2011-12 falls beyond the period of the comprehensive spending review.

Prisons

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1691W, on prisons, how many of the 18 claims have been settled  (a) out of court and  (b) in court; what the settlement was in each case; how many of the claims are ongoing; and whether any further claims have been lodged.

John Reid: The Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 19 February 2007 and provided the latest information held by the Department on the issue of compensation paid out to foreign national prisoners.
	A copy of this letter is available from the Library of the House.

Prisons: Alcohol

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the implementation of the Prison Service policy on alcohol misuse and hazardous drinking.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The alcohol strategy for prisoners was introduced in 2004. The focus is on improving consistency and building on good practice for the delivery of treatment within existing resources. As resources allow, prisons will look to expand services.
	A range of interventions is available in prisons to support those with an alcohol problem:
	clinical managementincluding detoxificationis available in all local and remand prisons;
	where alcohol is part of a wider substance misuse problem, the full range of drug interventions is available;
	Alcoholics Anonymous run groups in around 50 per cent. of prisons;
	an information pack and awareness video is available for all prisoners;
	some offending behaviour programmes address offenders' underlying criminogenic factors which occur in alcohol related crime; and
	the substance misuse service for all 16-18 year-old prisoners includes a particular focus on alcohol.

Prisons: Computers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued on the use of Sony Playstations in prisons in the last five years.

John Reid: Advice was issued to all prisons in December 2005 that the Sony Playstation 3 was barred from the prison estate because of the equipment's ability to send and receive radio signals.

Prisons: Drugs

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for which drugs prisoners are tested during mandatory drug tests.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All samples collected under the mandatory drug testing programme are tested for the following standard panel of drugs: amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, methadone, and opiates. In addition, prisons can request that individual prisoners' samples be tested for LSD and tests for buprenorphine are conducted at a number of prisons where intelligence indicates it is a problem.

Prisons: Food

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average daily cost for food is per person in prisons directly run by the Prison Service.

Gerry Sutcliffe: For 2005-06, the last full financial year for which figures are available, the average public sector Prison Service daily food cost per prisoner was 1.93.

Prisons: Mental Health

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many mental health in-reach teams operate within the Prison Service;
	(2)  how many prisons have dedicated mental health teams.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Responsibility for prison healthcare services now rests with the Department of Health.
	There are currently 102 mental health in-reach teams working within prisons. Every prison establishment in England and Wales has access to these services.
	Mental health services have been a key part of the Government's recent reforms of prison health services and the Department of Health is now investing 20 million a year in NHS mental health in-reach services for prisoners.

Prisons: Mobile Phones

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) mobile telephones and  (b) SIM cards were confiscated from prisoners by prison staff in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained at disproportionate cost only.

Prisons: Overcrowding

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners shared a cell intended for one prisoner in each of the last three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table shows the average monthly number of prisoners doubled up in cells designed for one and the proportion of the prisoner population this represents. There are no instances of more than two prisoners sharing a cell designed for one. The practice of three prisoners sharing a cell designed for one (trebling) ended in 1994.
	
		
			  Doubling information since 2003-04 
			  Financial year  Average monthly doubling( 1)  Proportion of prisoners doubled (percentage) 
			 2003-04 16,363 22.2 
			 2004-05 16,878 22.6 
			 2005-06 16,986 22.2 
			 2006-07(2) 17,974 22.8 
			 (1) Figures subject to rounding. (2) Figures for 2006-07 currently provisional.

Racial Violence

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) arrests,  (b) charges and  (c) successful prosecutions for incitement to racial hatred were made in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.
	The following table shows data extracted from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform in respect of the number of persons proceeded against and found guilty of incitement to racial hatred offences for 2004 and 2005. Prior to 2004, data for these offences were collected as part of a miscellaneous group of offences which cannot be separately identified on the database.
	
		
			  Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts, for various offences concerning Incitement to Racial Hatred, England and Wales, 2001-05( 1, 2) 
			Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			  Statute  Offence  2004  2005  2004  2005 
			 Public Order Act 1986 S.18 Use of words or behaviour or display material intended or likely to stir up racial hatred 34 15 2 1 
			 Public Order Act 1986 S 19 Publishing or distributing written material intended or likely to stir up racial hatred. 1 13  6 
			 Public Order Act 1986 S.21 Distributing, showing or playing a recording intended or likely to stir up racial hatred.1 
			 Public Order Act 1986 S.22 Broadcasting or including a programme in programme service intended or likely to stir up racial hatred.  2 1 1 
			 Public Order Act 1986 S.23 Possessing a racially inflammatory piece of material  1   
			 Total  35 31 3 9 
			 (1 )These data are on the principal offence basis. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Respect Task Force

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the roles and responsibilities are of each person employed by the Department's Respect taskforce.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 13 March 2007
	The Respect taskforce is a unit that works across Government, based at the Home Office. The taskforce includes a mix of substantive civil servants from the Home Office and other Government Departments, staff with specialist backgrounds in research and communications and practitioners from local government and the voluntary sector who are experienced in front line work to tackle antisocial behaviour, deal with problematic families and establish youth and sport activities.
	In addition to the Government's Co-ordinator for Respect, the Respect taskforce consists of a director with three main teams focusing on implementation, policy and communications. These teams are responsible for programme management of Respect action plan commitments across Government, working with local agencies and communities to ensure that the Respect programme is making effective progress on the ground, formulation and development of policy and communication through a range of media, campaigns and events. The Respect taskforce also has a small research function to evaluate action taken.

Seafarers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of the Seafarers Identity Documents Convention of the International Labour Organisation in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to the development of an identity card scheme.

Joan Ryan: The United Kingdom is a party to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention of 1958 (ILO 108). Seafarer Identity Documents (SIDs) issued under this Convention have been issued to British seafarers for many years. ILO SIDs held by nationals of other party states are accepted by the United Kingdom Immigration Service for shore leave and transit purposes.
	SIDs issued under this convention are issued solely for the purpose of facilitating shore leave and transit of seafarers in connection with seafaring activities and, as such, serve a different purpose to national identity cards. The ID cards scheme is intended for those legally resident or working in the UK for a specified period (likely to be three months) or longer.
	The United Kingdom is currently evaluating, with other relevant stakeholders, the practicalities of ILO Convention 185.

Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people  (a) received an official police warning,  (b) received an official police caution and  (c) were arrested under section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 in each month since August 2005.

Tony McNulty: Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 came into force on 1 August 2005.
	Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform show that there were no cautions, final warnings, or reprimands, issued by the police for offences under section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, in England and Wales, in 2005.
	Court proceedings data for 2006 will be available in the autumn. However, at present I understand from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner that no cautions or final warnings or reprimands have been issued for offences under section 132 in 2006.
	The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally by the Home Office. However I understand from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner that since section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 came into force until the end of December 2006, there have been 91 arrests of individuals for a range of offences connected to demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament. The commissioner is unable to break down the arrests month by month without incurring additional costs.

Sexual Offences: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many registered sex offenders there are in Shrewsbury and Atcham borough;
	(2)  how many sexual and violent offenders as defined by sections 327(3)(c) and (5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 were registered as living in the Shrewsbury and Atcham borough as at 31 March  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006;
	(3)  how many Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs) were applied for in  (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham borough,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England between 1 April 2005 and 1 March 2007; and how many (i) interim and (ii) full SOPOs were granted in (A) Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough, (B) the West Midlands and (C) England in that period;
	(4)  how many sex offenders in the Shrewsbury and Atcham borough having a registration requirement were  (a) cautioned and  (b) convicted for breaches of this requirement between (i) 1 March 2006 and 1 March 2007 and (ii) 1 March 2005 and 1 March 2006.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The available data on the number of registered sex offenders are not collated on a borough or constituency basis. Data on registered sex offenders are collated at multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) area and police basic command unit (BCU) levels within areas. MAPPA areas are co-terminous with police and probation areas. The data are published in (MAPPA) annual reports which are available in the House Libraries and at:
	http://www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk/output/page30.asp
	Shrewsbury and Atcham borough is not co-terminous with an area or BCU but is covered by data relating to West Mercia area. The following information relates to the number of registered sex offenders in the West Mercia area, as at 31 March 2006:
	
		
			  Category 1 
			  Registered sex offenders  Number 
			 South Worcs 174 
			 North Worcs 145 
			 Hereford 106 
			 Telford 95 
			 Shropshire 112 
			 Total 632 
		
	
	In respect of information relating to how many sexual and violent offenders as defined by sections 237(3)(c) and (5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 were registered as living in the Shrewsbury ands Atcham borough as at 31 March  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and 2006:
	The available information is not broken down to borough level, nor classified in the way requested. Data on all offenders qualifying for multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) are published in MAPPA annual reports and are broken down into three categories. These are as follows [with corresponding reference from the Criminal Justice Act 2003]
	Category 1Registered sex offenders [section 327(2)]
	Category 2Violent and other sex offenders [section 327(3), (4) and (5)] and
	Category 3Other offenders [section 325(2)(b)].
	In respect of information relating to the number of sex offenders having a registration requirement in Shrewsbury and Atcham borough who were  (a) cautioned and  (b) convicted for breaches of these requirements between (i) 1 March 2006 and 1 March 2007 and (ii) 1 March 2005 and 1 March 2006.
	The data is not available at a borough level. West Mercia's Area MAPPA annual report for the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 shows that 34 offenders were either cautioned or convicted for breaches of notification requirements last year. Caution and conviction data are not collated separately.
	
		
			   West Midlands region (comprising Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Mercia and West Midlands areas)  England 
			 SOPO applied for 49 729 
			 Interim SOPO granted 3 158 
			 SOPO imposed by the court 42 857

Special Constables: West Midlands

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables were recruited by the West Midlands police force in each of the last three years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 20 March 2007
	 Figures on the recruitment of special constables are collected by the Home Office, but are not published in the Police Service Strength Bulletin. Recruitment figures exclude specials on transfer from other forces and those rejoining. The figures are in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003-04 174 
			 2004-05 278 
			 2005-06 278

Terrorism

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UN listed terror suspects are  (a) present and  (b) suspected by his Department to be present in the United Kingdom.

Tony McNulty: United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1333 (2000) and 1390 (2002) and subsequent renewing UN Resolutions, most recently Security Council Resolution 1617 (2005), are directed against Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda and those terrorists and terrorist organisations associated with them. The Resolution imposes restrictive measures, including a travel ban, against those individuals and entities listed by the UN Committee established by UN Resolution 1267(1999). The latest list of individuals (dated 12 December 2006) subject to restrictive travel measures is available at the following website:
	http://www.un.Org/Docs/sc/committees/1267/1267ListEng.htm
	A copy has been placed in the Library.

Terrorism: Crime Prevention

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much has been spent on advertising the anti-terrorism hotline since its introduction;
	(2)  what the cost was of the full page advertisement for the anti-terrorism hotline in The London Paper on 15 March.

Tony McNulty: holding answer s 22 March 2007
	 This is a matter for the Metropolitan Police Service.

Vetting

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bodies are registered for Criminal Records Bureau checks; and how many of these are umbrella bodies.

John Reid: At the end of February 2007 there were 10,096 organisations registered with the Criminal Records Bureau; of these, 2,429 are umbrella bodies.

Written Questions

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to question 122932, on police stop forms, tabled by the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs on 20 February 2007.

Tony McNulty: I replied to the hon. Member on 19 March 2007,  Official Report, column 675W.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre: Health Services

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to register healthcare given in Yarl's Wood Detention Centre with the Healthcare Commission.

Liam Byrne: The registration of the contracted healthcare provider at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre under the Care Standards Act 2000 is a matter between the provider concerned and the Healthcare Commission.

Young Prisoners

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners aged under 18 years were assessed as vulnerable in each year of the last period for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The table shows how many young people in custody at the end of February in each year since 2003 were assessed by their Youth Offending Team as being vulnerable. The figures were provided by the Youth Justice Board. (It is worth noting that a substantial number of young people in custody may be assessed as vulnerable on two or more occasions so whole year figures may involve some double counting).
	Vulnerability is a concept that embraces a wide range of possible factors, including physical and mental health and other special needs and can include specific risks that a young person may pose to others.
	Young people assessed as vulnerable by the youth offending team are not all at high risk. And the degree of vulnerability may change in the course of their period in custody. The youth offending team's assessment is therefore only a starting point. While the most vulnerable young people are accommodated in establishments with high staff-to-trainee ratios, safeguarding arrangements are in place in all establishments.
	
		
			  Young people in secure estate for children and young people at end February assessed as being vulnerable 
			   Vulnerable young people in custody 
			 2003 946 
			 2004 846 
			 2005 911 
			 2006 1,024 
			 2007 1,148